a weekly guide to wine, spirits, and beer
presented by
RedWine
wine
Varietals
syrah/shiraz
pinot noir
zinfandel
merlot
cabernet sauvignon
sangiovese
grenache
Beer Guide
beer
Spirits Guide
spirits
syrah/
shiraz
[See-RAH, Shih-RAHZ]
recommended food pairings
Grilled meats with tomato-based barbecue sauce, steak, duck, sausages, venison, hard cheeses, mushrooms.
serving temperature
60-65°
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cocktail corner
57-60°
serving temperature
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Lean roast beef, roast chicken, duck, salmon, lamb and mushroom dishes
recommended food pairings
[Pee-no-nwarh]
pinot
noir
60-65°
serving temperature
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Grilled chicken or beef with tomato-based barbecue sauce, grilled and braised beef, lamb, duck, strong and blue cheeses
recommended food pairings
[ZIN-fan-dell]
zinfandel
58-62°
serving temperature
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Beef, pork, roast chicken, casseroles, vegetarian entrees.
recommended food pairings
[Mehr-LOW]
merlot
60-65°
serving temperature
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Roast and grilled beef, lamb, game and fowl, aged cheeses.
recommended food pairings
[cah-behr-NAY
so-veen-YAHN]
cabernet
sauvignon
60-65°
serving temperature
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Pasta dishes with red sauce, pizza, veal chops, grilled steak and sausages.
recommended food pairings
[San-jo-VAY-zay]
sangiovese
60-65°
serving temperature
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Barbecue, grilled lamb, duck, eggplant
recommended food pairings
[Gren-AASH /
Gar-NAH-cha]
grenache
Cool, 46-54°
serving temperature:
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Food: Barbecue and beef entrees
Cheese: Camembert, other earthy varieties
recommended pairings
ABV range:
4-7%
IBU:
10-15
belgian
dark ale
cream ale
black and tan
light lager
czech pilsner
imperial ipa
belgian dark ale
Balanced, malty, estery, spicy, medium-bodied
characteristics
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Cool, 46-54°
serving temperature:
Food: Grilled meats, barbecue and other beef dishes and grilled salmon
Cheese: Limburger, Monterey Jack, Stilton
recommended pairings
Balanced, hoppy or complex; fruity, citrusy, spicy, piney, caramel, medium-bodied
characteristics
ABV range:
7.5-11+%
IBU:
65-120
imperial
ipa
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Cool, 46-54°
serving temperature:
Food: Light fare, including salads, crab, lobster, salmon and chicken; fried foods; spicy Mexican entrees
Cheese: Limburger, Monterey Jack, Stilton
recommended pairings
Balanced, biscuity, toasty, crisp, medium-bodied
characteristics
ABV range:
4.1-5.3%
IBU:
30-45
czech
pilsner
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Cold, 39-45°
serving temperature:
Food: Bar food, shellfish, spicy ethnic entrees
Cheese: Aged cheeses, Brick, Cheddar, Jalapeño Cheddar
recommended pairings
Crisp, balanced, light-bodied
characteristics
ABV range:
2.4-4.3%
IBU:
4-14
light
lager
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Cool, 46-54°
serving temperature:
Food: Roasted and barbecued beef, chicken and seafood
Cheese: Brick, Cheddar and Colby
recommended pairings
Balanced, roasty, floral, light- to medium-bodied
characteristics
ABV range:
4.7-7%
IBU:
varies by beers used in the mix
black and tan
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Cold, 39-45°
serving temperature:
Food: Salads, salmon, seafood, chicken
Cheese: Brick, Brie, Havarti, Monterey Jack
recommended pairings
Crisp, malty, grainy, sweet, medium-bodied
characteristics
ABV range:
4.5-7%
IBU:
10-25
cream ale
tequila
rum
scotch whisky
cognac brandy
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Vodka is the most-consumed spirit in the world. In 2012, according to The Economist, global vodka consumption reached 4.4 billion liters. The definitive neutral spirit, vodka is an essential ingredient to be enjoyed in any number of mixed drinks, and sippable straight in upscale, premium versions.
vodka
vodka
cordials
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Cognac, France, the world’s premier brandy region, is some 80 miles north of Bordeaux. Not surprisingly, the region was first a wine-producing area. In the mid-1500s, however, Cognac merchants began to distill some of their wines, making them more stable for transport to export markets in the Netherlands, Britain and Ireland.
cognac
brandy
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Cordials offer a delicious burst of flavor and sweetness. Offering endless possibilities, cordials are spirits combined with botanicals or other flavoring agents, as well as a sweetener and sometimes coloring. They’re ideal for sipping after a meal, spiking a tasty dessert and mixing into fun, colorful cocktails.
cordials
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Scotch, quite simply, is whisky made and aged at least three years in Scotland. All whisky made in Scotland is Scotch. All Scotch varieties fall within two broad categories or are blends of these two: malt whisky and grain whisky. Malt whisky must be 100 percent malted barley. Grain whisky may include wheat, rye, corn or other grains.
scotch
whisky
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Rum, distilled from sugar cane or its byproducts, is synonymous with the island life. Sugar cane and rum production spread throughout the Caribbean after 1493, when Christopher Columbus brought sugar cane cuttings to the region. The plant was quick to flourish in the heat and humidity of the Caribbean region.
rum
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Tequila may have a wild and crazy reputation, but this unique spirit is created according to strict guidelines, guaranteeing authenticity and consistency. It’s distilled from the fermented juice of the Weber blue agave plant, and comes only from a specified region of Mexico, centered around the western state of Jalisco.
tequila
Hurricane
deals
Margarita
Strawberry
Daquiri
Piña Colada
Summer!
Celebrate
Forum
The Forum Shops at Olympia Parkway
8356 Agora Parkway
Selma, TX 78154
(210) 566-1503
Total Wine & More
5 Reasons to Get All Your Booze at
Total Wine
The Do’s and Dont’s of Wine Gifting
Corks vs. Screw-On: What’s the Best Way to Store Wine?
San Antonio (Del Norte)
La Plaza Del Norte Shopping Center
125 NW Loop 410 Ste 260
San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 524-9300
Total Wine & More
San Antonio (The Rim)
The Rim
17530 La Cantera Pkwy Ste103
San Antonio, TX 78257
(210) 877-9155
Total Wine & More
5 Reasons to Get All Your Booze at
Total Wine
The Do’s and Dont’s of Wine Gifting
Corks vs. Screw-On: What’s the Best Way to Store Wine?
5 Reasons to Get
All Your Booze at Total Wine
From mimosas to sambuca, Tiki cocktails to Irish coffee, and red wine to flavored vodka, there’s a drink for every occasion, mood, and vibe. But with Total Wine & More, you can find all your imbibing needs, all in one place. So whether you’re toasting to others or just to yourself, here’s how Total Wine is giving new meaning to “it’s five o’clock somewhere.”
1. Family owned
From the very beginning, Total Wine has been about bringing people together. Founded in 1991 by brothers David and Robert Trone, the now-nationwide chain began as a single, small store in Delaware. Since then, the brothers — who remain at the helm today — have been the heart of the company, welcoming employees and customers into the Total Wine family.
2. Nationwide presence
Today, the once-modest business has become America’s leading wine superstore, with 197 locations across 23 states, including 29 in the state of Texas. With so many stores, you’re never far from a Total Wine — so whether you’re picking up a last-minute gift on the way to a party or planning one weeks in advance, there’s a Total Wine nearby with everything you need.
3. Wide selection
Of course, the quantity of stores is only as important as the quality of their selection. At the typical Total Wine store, shoppers will find more than 8,000 different wines from every wine-producing region in the world and more than 2,500 different beers and 3,000 different spirits — something for every taste, price point, and type of drinker.
4. Low prices
While Total Wine sells everything from bottom to top shelf, the superstores are committed to offering the lowest prices possible on the products they stock. Thanks to relationships built with producers, importers, and wholesalers over the past 28 years, Total Wine is able to purchase their inventory at a discount and passes these savings onto their customers.
5. Knowledgeable staff
Still don’t know the difference between a chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon? With 600 wine service team members and 50 Total Wine Professionals, with the highest level of expertise, there’s always someone at Total Wine who can help answer questions, suggest bottles, and explain tasting notes. Customers looking to take their wine knowledge to the next level can attend in-store events including tastings, classes, and pairings.
There may not be any wrong answers when it comes to buying wine, beer, and spirits, but there is definitely a right answer: Total Wine. Feeling thirsty? Find your nearest Total Wine store here.
Summer or winter, West Coast or East Coast, and day or night, there are few constants that span all seasons, places, and times of the day. Thankfully, alcohol is one of them.
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The Do’s and Dont’s of Wine Gifting
But fear no longer, gift-givers! Gone are the days of standing paralyzed in the wine aisle, scanning labels while waiting for some sort of divine intervention to point you in the right direction. Thanks to these do’s and dont’s, you’ll never stress over wine-giving again — and you’ll never buy anyone anything else.
DO: Look for a pretty label.
Books aren’t supposed to be judged by their covers, we know — but when it comes to choosing a bottle of wine for a gift, it doesn’t hurt to have an eye-catching label. Many independent and boutique vineyard have branched out from the traditional white label and script font, with some even commissioning artists to design their bottles.
DON’T: Forget to read it.
That being said, you should never pick a wine bottle exclusively based on the label — or at least, what the label looks like. Make sure to look at the region, alcohol percentage, varietal, tasting notes, and, perhaps most importantly, sugar level — there’s nothing worse than thinking you bought a dry white and ending up with a dessert wine.
DO: Set a budget.
One of the most daunting things about buying wine is that its sold at virtually every price point, from Charles Shaw’s “Two-Buck Chuck” to Château Cheval Blanc. Depending on the event, the person, and the relationship you have with them, you may want to spend anywhere between $10 and $100+ on a bottle of wine — but generally, between $25 and $50 should buy a bottle you can count on!
DON’T: Come in too far under it.
It may be tempting to reach for the bottom shelf, but remember — cheap wine is usually cheap for a reason. So that’s to say that boxed wine serves a purpose, but unless it was specifically requested, that purpose should not be a gift. We’d say spending $15+ puts you in the safe range.
DO: Consider the time of year, occasion, and recipient.
These can often be easy indicators to help point you in the right direction — if it’s for a summertime patio party, maybe bring a bottle of rosé. If it’s a birthday dinner in winter, you may want to opt for a dark red. The recipient may also be reflected in the region or year; for example, consider a wine from a part of the world the recipient has a connection to or, for an anniversary, from the year the couple was married.
DON’T: Go too niche, unless you know they like that.
These days, the wine market is much more than whites, reds, and rosés. From chocolate wine to beer-wine hybrids, there has been a distinct rise in the production of unusual, offbeat, or quirky wines — and they make great gifts, if you know the recipient is into that kind of thing. If not, you may want to go with something more traditional.
DO: Keep a few crowd-pleasing varietals in your back pocket.
If you don’t know the recipient, food, or crowd well, it never hurts to play it safe and go with a class crowd pleaser. Both pinots — pinot grigio and pinot noir — tend to be bestsellers, and pair well with a wide variety of foods. Rosé is appropriate for pretty much any event during the warmer months, and Champagne for anything worth celebrating.
Ready to put your newfound wine-giving skills to the test? Pick up a bottle at Total Wine, the wine superstore.
When it comes to gift giving, wine is often considered an easy go-to. And sure, it’s works for almost every occasion and recipient — but anyone who’s so much as tried to pick out a bottle for someone else, knows that gifting wine can be a lot harder than it sounds. With different price points, varietals, wineries, regions, and blends to choose from, it’s almost enough to make you give up altogether and buy some flowers instead. Almost.
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Corks vs. Screw-On: What’s the Best Way to Store Wine?
There’s nothing worse than going to finish a bottle of wine, and realizing it wasn’t stored properly. We may not cry over spilled milk, but we’ve definitely cried over ruined wine.
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The pain of wasted wine is of the many reasons that screw-on tops are becoming increasingly popular with winemakers. Once considered a low-brow way of sealing bottles reserved for bargain brands, more and more high end labels are opting to forgo the cork. Of course, the transition towards screw-on tops hasn’t been without debate — or naysayers, as many maintain that corking is the superior way of storing wine. So which really is best? We broke down the pros and cons of each.
CORKS
Pros:
History: Wines have been bottled with corks since the 17th century, when it was first discovered that they could not only seal the bottle but slowly age the wine. Corks have been a fixture of winemaking tradition ever since.
Ceremony: Though it can be challenging (and occassionally, frustrating), there’s something to be said for the ritual of using a bottle opener and popping the cork on a bottle of wine.
Eco-friendly: Cork is a natural material and renewable resource, though limited.
Cons:
Cork taint: Up to three percent of all wine bottles will become “corked,” a term that refers to the process in which bacteria from the cork contaminates and spoils the wine. Corking is characterized by a distinct, usually musty and wet, scent.
Lack of consistency: Because cork is natural resource, the material breathes at inconsistent rates — meaning that wine can age differently bottle to bottle, with no control over this variable.
Cost: Corks are about two to three times the cost of a screw-on cap, which is why screw-on tops initially became associated with less expensive bottles of wine.
SCREW-ON TOPS
Pros:
Resealable: Perhaps the biggest benefit to screw-on tops is that they make bottles resealable — no more spoiled wine! Better yet, these tops make it easy to bring a bottle on the go, as they can be easily transported without worrying about spillage.
Consistency: Unlike corks, screw-on tops don’t alter the wine’s composition. When using this type of seal, there’s no risk of cork bacteria or inconsistencies in the aging process.
No struggle: With screw-on tops, there’s no need for wrestling with an opener, and no risk of breaking the cork or pushing it into the bottle.
Cons:
Perception: Though it’s no longer true especially for “New World” wines less insistent on tradition, some may still assume that screw-on tops signify a discount or cheap wine.
Breaking tradition: Sure — screw-on tops aren’t exactly keeping with longstanding wine traditions. If the history, ritual, and legacy of wine is what interests you most, then you may prefer to stick to “Old World” wineries that remain loyal to the corking process.
Not ubiquitous: Since this is still a rising trend, not all wines are offered in bottles with screw-on tops. If you’re seeking out a bottle with this type of seal, your options may still be limited.
The typical Total Wine store sells a selection of more than 8,000 wines — with bottles sealed both with corks and screw-on tops! See the full selection and get started on your order here.
