The Wine School of Philadelphia

What's in A Name?

A lot. Or, of course, nothing at all. It all depends on the wine you're talking about. And these days, with all sorts of outlandishly-named bottlings dotting the wine store shelves, narrowing down your choices can make you crazy (Fat Bastard Shiraz might sound fun, but how does it actually taste?) Here, then, are four of our favorite wines with names that  stand out, confuse, or otherwise make us ask that age-old question: What the heck is in that bottle?

Find these wines near you using our Wine Finder

R Wines 2007 Shiraz "Luchador," Barossa - Maybe it's our love of Distrito's wrestling-mask motif. Or of everything Jack Black ever commits to celluloid. Whatever it is, this well-priced Shiraz offers everything you'd want in an affordable bottling like this one: Ample fruit, a hint of spice, and that ineffable quality that we like to call "gulpability." Plus, the wrestler label is kinda cool. $16.99. Code: 27422.

Brancott Estate 2005 Gewurztraminer "Patutahi" - Easy to drink, tough to pronounce. But it's worth learning how to for this exotically fruity, eminently enjoyable, pad thai-ready Gewurz. $24.99. Code: 10649.

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Buil & Giné 2006 "Giné Giné," Priorat - Yes, it's quite a mouthful of a name. And no, we don't recommend saying it five times fast after two glasses. We do, however, like the juice, a rich, complex blend of Carignan and Garnacha. It's well worth the effort of trying to pronounce it with panache. $16.0o. Code: 26200.

Two Hands 2006 Shiraz "Gnarly Dudes," Barossa - Two Hands always names their wines well, but this one stands out for both its name (who doesn't feel just a little bit cooler drinking a wine called Gnarly Dudes?) and its price point: It's an awful lot of wine--ripe, dense, spicy--from one of Australia's most respected producers, for just $29.99. Code: 10763.

Upcoming Classes

Time to Turn to Cooler Thoughts We may still be slogging through the dog days of summer, but cooler times aren't all that far away. And while this might not be the perfect time to pop open bottles of rich, chill-chasing red, it'll be here soon enough. To help get you in the mood (and to give you something to do while cooling off in your cranked-up AC), we've posted dozens of new classes for the fall and early winter. From spotlights on established and up-and-coming regions to brand-new cooking and wine classes to a series of Sommelier Smackdowns that will make your head spin, the Wine School is already hitting the ground running for the fall...and it's not even the middle of August yet!

A few new classes....

Wine 201: The Next Step Saturday, August 29th 6:00pm - 8:00pm
For those of you who have taken Wine 101, this class is a must. Let us show you how to buy & enjoy wine to the max.

Wine 101: Intro to Wine Thursday, September 3rd 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Okay, this is a little backwards, being that 201 is happening before 101. If you haven't taken this class yet.... you are way behind the eight ball.

The Wines of Italy Saturday, September 12th 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Our Italian wine classes are stone cold crazy. Did you know that the school keeps an inventory of over 160 types of wine from over 40 different italian wine regions in its cellars? So if you thought all there was to Italy was Chianti, Barolo, and Amarone.....

The Wines of South America Wednesday, September 23rd 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Some of the top wine regions in the New World are located in South America, and also one of the best values. Plus, there is an interesting movement towards organic and heirloom farming in the region.

And so much more at vinology.com

Transition Wines

Fall fashions are already lining the shelves of clothing retailers. Back-to-school sales are in full swing. The parking lot at Target is packed with college kids picking up fittings for their dorm rooms. So why wouldn't wine lovers start preparing for autumn, too? You might not be able to wear a turtleneck sweater in August, but you definitely can start thinking about stocking up on cooler weather wines.

Find these wines near you using our Wine Finder

Pecchenino 2005 Dolcetto di Dogliani "San Luigi" - Nebbiolo and Barbera may get most of the accolades, but a good Dolcetto, like this one, is perfect for this time of year with its modest weight, easy drinkability, and amazing versatility at the table. $18.99. Code: 23929.

Fonseca 10 Year Old Tawny Port - You might think of Port as a cold-weather treat, but it's really appropriate throughout the year. The trick right now is to put the slightest hint of a chill on it. Nothing much, of course, but just enough to bring out the acid and tame the rich, ripe fruit. This 10-year-old bottling, from one of the greatest names in Port, is perfect for doing just that. $26.99. Code: 11343.

Bodegas Borsao 2007 Garnacha "Tres Picos" - One of our favorite bottlings year after year, and 2007 is no exception. Ripe berry fruit and typical Garnacha spice dominate, all of it wrapped up in a mouth-coating texture with generous hints of vanilla. Excellent, as always. $16.99. Code: 26108.

Domaine de Couroulu 2003 Vacqueyras Vielles Vignes - The 03's from the Southern Rhone have always been a favorite of ours, and this one is an excellent example of how affordable even standouts are. Your CdP's may not all be ready yet, but this Vacqueyras is just singing. $24.99. Code: 21073.

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