| Jim Hammond |
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Jim Hammond has been exploring wines in North America, Europe and Australia for more than 20 years. A published author, he includes information about wine in every book.
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| Wines of Enchantment Available Now! |
ISBN# 0-9709878-0-3
$7.95
Now available through Amazon.com
and at
Bookworks
4022 Rio Grande Blvd NW
Albuquerque, NM 87107
Madeleine's Place
3824 Corrales Road
Corrales, NM 87048
Tularosa Winery
23 Coyote Canyon Rd
Tularosa, NM 88352
La Vi�a Winery
4201 S. Highway 28
La Union, NM 88021
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And you can still order the e-version! Click on the book cover. |
| The Southwestern Wine Blog |
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Check out my blog for these and other topics
A Visit to Caja Winery
Wines of Enchantment: My New Wine Guide
Tasting notes in Alexander Valley
A Tasting at the Inn
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From my wine column in the Albuquerque Journal
July 9, 2008
Italian Labels Tell Grape Tales |
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Italy is the largest exporter of wines in the world, many with hard-to-decipher labels if you haven't studied Italian grapes and regions. Because Italy uses hundreds of different grapes in its wines, and grows them in a multitude of climatic regions, the work can be truly daunting.
Read More
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| News from the Southwestern Wine Guy |
Murphy-Goode: What's in a Name
I have been a fan of the Murphy-Goode winery for some time. From their premium wines to the standard offerings, quality speaks loudly.
The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley, Sonoma is a case in point. Murphy-Goode recommends pairing it with meat, and this one is hefty enough to overpower more timid culinary offerings, but I'd drink this one all by itself and still feel like I'd had a good meal. The 91% Cabernet Sauvignon grape is balanced with Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Merlot, almost the classic Meritage blend except for the ratios. The intent here though is to balance and enhance the Alexander Valley Cabernet fruit, one of California's premium areas for this grape. Try to find an under-forty Napa Cab that can compete with this one, I dare you.
I brought this wine to a friend's BBQ, and the hostess, my wife, and another cab lover sipped and savored it. Somehow it dissapeared before we could share it beyond our intimate circle. Good wine will do that. I'd rate it right at the top of my drinkability index.
The Hammond drinkability index (HDI), although not scientifically-proven, is a measure of not only the taste and complexity of a wine, but also how much you enjoy drinking it. When your hand slips lovingly over the bottle as you pour another glass, when you gaze fondly on its rich, warm colors, when you continue to sniff the bouquet of the empty glass, and finally sigh, contentedly, after the last sip, that is pure HDI. And that is what this wine delivers.
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Wine Judging is a Way of Life
I've had the opportunity to enjoy the new regional wines recently. I was witness to a wine judging event: the Southwestern Wine Competition in Taos. A week or two later I was invitied to judge wines at the New Mexico State Fair competition. It was like watching a movie, and then being in it. It was exhilarating, and a great learning experience.
The Southwestern Wine Competition in Taos  precedes the Toast of Taos and consists of judging several flights of wine. The wines come from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, and I tasted entries from each state that impressed me.
When I was judging the wines for the state fair competition, I formed a new  appreciation for the challenges of crafting any wine, regardless of whose palate it pleases.
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Book Signings
There are two things I am passionate about. Well, there are a lot of things I am passionate about, but two of them are wine and writing. I have paired these two passions into Wines of Enchantment, the first in a series of guides to wines of the Southwest. I scheduled some opportunities to meet with you and talk about the book and, of course, wine!
I will be signing books at the following locations:
The Flying Star Cafe in Bernalillo: August 31  from 2-3pm
The new Flying Star Cafe at 200 S. Camino del Pueblo, in Bernalillo is holding its Grand Opening during Labor Day weekend August 30, 31 and September 1, 2008. Flying Star Cafe is donating a storefront right next to the new cafe in Bernalillo for that weekend and The New Mexico Book Co-op is having a Book Fair/Store. Stop by Sunday as you enjoy the Bernalillo Wine Fesitval. Wines of Enchantment will point you in the right direction. Bookworks: September 14 from 3-4pm
No wine on premises, but you'll be primed for a fantastic wine and food pairing for dinner before I'm done! Bookworks is located at 4022 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, just North of Rio Grande and Griegos on the East Side. Celebration of Excellent Women: September 18 from 4-5pm 
I'll be helping excellent women find excellent wine! The Celebration of Excellent Women is a networking event held at:
Events
Speaking to standing room only audiences at the Corrales Quilt and Wine Fair, I could once again see how much interest there is in wine in New Mexico.
I facilitated a wine tasting on August 19 and will facilitate the wine and food pairing at a private party on August 22. I will also be providing tasting notes for wine served at Corrales MainStreet's "Starry Nights" on September 6 and giving a talk to Compadres de Corrales on September 17.
My new venture, Wine Maestro, offers various wine programs to delight and entertain your guests at a dinner party or a wine and tapas get-together. Creating wine dinners, which I have done for many years, is now a growing buisness, and along with wine consulting is grabbing whatever free time I once had. I love it!
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Fellow wine lovers, I salute your quest for the flawless quaff! Stop by my website and my blog on your journey to vinaperfection for inspiration.
Your Wine Guy
Jim Hammond | |
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