Italian White Wine From Abruzzo

Wines with colorful, eye-catching labels generally don’t make it into my shopping basket, but something made me try the 2024 Abbondanza Pecorino. Maybe because it’s Italian I cut it some slack in the artwork department. It is, after all, a nice piece of work by Los Angeles artist Eric Junker. 

The wine is made from 100% organic Pecorino grapes grown on the hillsides of Abruzzo, as depicted on the label art. The Colline Pescaresi locale is close enough to the Adriatic Sea that the maritime effect comes through in the wine. 

The wine was vinified in stainless steel and packaged in a one-liter bottle. Alcohol sits at 13% abv and I paid $22 for it at Larchmont Village Wine, Spirits & Cheese in Los Angeles.

This wine has a clean, golden straw color. The nose gives a rather faint aroma of stone fruit and citrus minerality. There is a distinct salinity in the smell, no doubt owing to the nearby ocean. The palate is fresh and lemony, with a gentle acidity. The finish is medium in length and carries with it a nutty aftertaste. 

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Revisiting Carmen Delanz Carménère

The 2024 Carmen Delanz Carménère Apalta was grown in Chile’s Colchagua Valley, in the Apalta region. The varietal makeup is 71% Carménère grapes, 15% Syrah, 9% Petit Verdot, and a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Carmen’s Carmenere vineyard was planted in 1935. I’m told that Carménère was considered extinct from its original home in Bordeaux, until 1994. That’s when a noted wine expert identified the grape in Chile’s Maipo Valley, where it had been known as Chilean Merlot. This wine is a tip of the hat to that discovery. It carries alcohol at 14% abv and retails for $30. Winemaker Ana Maria Cumsille has done a fine job with this Carménère blend.

This wine is dark ruby in the glass. The nose carries rich notes of cherry, strawberry, and cassis. A savory angle joins the fruit and presents a more complex bouquet. The palate brings similar dark fruit flavors, along with some clove, anise and oak spice. The tannins are firm, yet the sip is elegant and smooth. Pair this with any sort of meat or cheese. 

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Blood Of The Vines - Harryhausen Forever

Pairing‌‌‌ ‌‌‌wine‌‌‌ ‌‌‌with‌‌‌ ‌‌‌movies!‌‌‌  ‌‌‌See‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌hear‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌fascinating‌‌‌ ‌‌‌commentary‌‌‌ ‌‌‌for‌‌‌ ‌‌‌these‌‌‌ movies‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌many‌‌‌ ‌‌‌more‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌at‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌From‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Hell.‌‌‌ ‌This week we celebrate the great stop-motion effects master Ray Harryhausen, with some lively wine pairings to go with each film.

Clash of the Titans, from 1981, was the final movie to feature Harryhausen’s work. It was the beginning, however, of a great internet meme. When Zeus ordered Poseidon to “release the Kraken,” he gave a caption to innumerable pix of everything from vengeful gods to yawning kittens. A hockey team also took Kraken as their name. Not a bad getaround for a giant cephalopod. 

Some of Harryhausen’s previous work, from Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger and 20 Million Miles to Earth, was recycled for Clash. Its opening weekend box office wasn’t too far off the mark set by the number one film that week, Raiders of the Lost Ark. Raiders had legs, though, which is more than we can say for Harryhausen’s Medusa. 

We’ll skip the Kraken Underwater Wine Bar in Montenegro. If you’re looking for bargains, don’t hold your breath. Silent Sea Cabernet Sauvignon allows you to stay on terra firma while enjoying the big squid on the label. $35. 

1953’s The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms showcases some of Harryhausen’s best work. Atomic testing causes a prehistoric dinosaur to be released from its prison of ice. You can imagine the destruction. In fact, if you’ve seen 1954’s Godzilla you don’t have to imagine. It’s pretty much the same thing. It’s one large, rampaging monster wreaking havoc with every step. Some say Beast was the inspiration for Godzilla, and that’s easier to believe than anyone’s assessment of the monster as a “hoax.”

The critics may not have liked the movie as a whole, but they lavished praise on Harryhausen for the special effects. The roller coaster scene used the Cyclone Racer in Long Beach, CA as the ill-fated wooden amusement ride. 

Napa’s Del Dotto Vineyards has a Cabernet Sauvignon for those who figure they just haven’t been paying enough for wine. It looks like The Beast goes for around $500 a bottle, which is about $450 more than I can stand to pay for a good Cab. Also, you have to be a VIP member to get it. Check the magnum they have for $915. It comes in a box with bars on it. I would not expect a restrained flavor profile here. 

Harryhausen called it quits with dinosaur monsters in The Valley of Gwangi. If you want to imagine a movie pitch to end all movie pitches, this has to be the one. It’s a 1969 monster-sci-fi-western, which likely gives it sole occupancy in that genre. Somehow, cowboys versus dinosaurs didn’t spawn a river of spinoffs and sequels. 

Plot-wise, if you follow prehistoric horse tracks into a place called the Forbidden Valley, you probably get what you deserve. Gwangi is the prehistoric monster, who operates as the head honcho of all the other ~sauruses that swarm about. In the time-honored horror tradition of monster deaths, it’s fire that does him in. 

Dino Raw is a Riesling from Weingut Strub in Germany. The label depicts a character that owes more to Dr. Hunter S. Thompson than the bag of dinosaur toys I played with as a kid. Don’t let the $38 price tag scare you. We can’t all shop at Trader Joe’s. 

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Lambrusco Light

The 2024 Paltrinieri Radice Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC is a sparkling Lambrusco, with a lighter color than most wines of that grape. Labeled as vino frizzante secco, that describes a wine that is bubbly and dry. 

Made from 100% Lambrusco Sorbara grapes, the second fermentation is done in the bottle, like any other sparkling wine. The juice of the Lambrusco di Sorbara is much lighter and zippier than that of the Lambrusco Grasparossa. Alcohol is predictably low, at 11% abv and it cost $28 at Eataly. 

This is a red wine, but it is orange in the glass, and it pours up with a healthy white foam that dissipates rather quickly. The nose is very earthy and unlike most other Lambruscos I have tasted. The aromas center on citrus, apricot, and herbal notes, with a yeasty twist. The flavors are quite earthy, too, and not at all what I would expect from a red wine, even one that's orange. Minerality plays a leading role here, with stone fruit and cherry notes following. 

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Rosado From Rioja

Founded in 1970 by Enrique Forner, Marqués de Cáceres is now run by his daughter, Cristina Forner, the fourth generation of the wine family. The bodega is located in the community of Cenicero in La Rioja Alta.

The 2025 Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Rosado is made from Tempranillo grapes. Earlier vintages had a splash of Garnacha Tinta.  Alcohol clocks in at 13.5% abv and sells for around ten bucks.  It isn’t a terribly complex rosé, but it is quite tasty and ready to be chilled for picnics and barbecues.

Here is what I wrote about the 2024 vintage, and it stands for the 2025 edition:

This dependable rosé is a rich, pink salmon color, with a mineral-laden nose featuring lemon, strawberry, and cherry aromas. The palate is dry, fruity and laced with minerals. A good level of acidity provides for excellent food pairing and a refreshing demeanor on its own. There’s a touch of orange peel on the finish. The wine is a great chilled sipper, but also pairs well with spring salads, summer grilling, or paella, if you're up to it. 

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Blood Of The Vines - Woo And Company

Pairing‌‌‌ ‌‌‌wine‌‌‌ ‌‌‌with‌‌‌ ‌‌‌movies!‌‌‌  ‌‌‌See‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌hear‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌fascinating‌‌‌ ‌‌‌commentary‌‌‌ ‌‌‌for‌‌‌ ‌‌‌these‌‌‌ movies‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌many‌‌‌ ‌‌‌more‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌at‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌From‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Hell.‌‌‌ ‌This week we celebrate some Hong Kong action films, two directed by John Woo and one not. There will be wine pairings, too. For all three.

Hard Boiled was Woo's 1992 answer to those who dinged his films for glorifying criminals. The heroes here are cops. Chow Yun-fat is one of those cops, but he's the kind of cop who doesn't mind breaking a few rules and generally shooting up the place. 

Woo took a bow for creating what some critics say is a film that redefined the action genre. The opening scene starts in a tea house full of incredibly noisy birds. Chow finds some pistols, and the chirping is drowned out by gunfire. Seemingly endless gunfire, with Chow working a piece in each hand. Automatic weapons come out of nowhere, prompting our two-fisted shooter to blaze away as he slides down a banister. Finally he removes the toothpick from his mouth and puts a bullet in the bad guy's head, close enough to splatter his face with blood. It seems everyone else in the place is headed for the morgue, too. If that sounds familiar, it should. Every action director since has taken a cue from Woo's bloodbath. 

If you haven't had enough mayhem, watch the rest of the movie. There's plenty more where that came from. The movie poster is worth a glimpse, as it features Yun-fat toting a shotgun in one hand and a baby in the other. 

From Australia, Gunpowder Wines should be a full clip for you. Their Hunter Valley Shiraz is $80.

In 1986 Woo co-wrote and directed A Better Tomorrow, also starring Chow Yun-fat. In this action flick, a gangster gets out of prison and has an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other. The angel wants him to reconcile with his policeman brother, the devil is Chow. He recommends revenge. 

Woo took inspiration from The Story of a Discharged Prisoner and jumped at the chance to break out of the comedic films he had been making. The angel on the shoulder may have lost the battle, but the devil on the other shoulder lost the war, taking a bullet in the back. The ending features a brotherly stroll involving handcuffs. Maye the angel didn't do so badly after all.

Tomorrow Cellars make wine with the alcohol removed. That sounds like a pretty boring beverage for an action film screening, but it's probably not a bad idea if you plan on being involved in a shootout.

No John Woo here. Kung Fu Hustle was made in 2004, a Hong Kong martial arts action film with some comedy thrown in. It was directed, produced and co-written by Stephen Chow. He's no relation to Chow Yun-fat. At least I don't think so. 

The script revolves around a couple of kung fu wannabes who have to make their way through a series of tough challenges. They have to battle a tenement landlady, whose building is right next door to a casino. Pro tip: if you are looking for a casino, stay away from the ones located next door to a slum. They probably pay six to five for a blackjack. 

As if you couldn't see it coming, the pair end up heroes. What you might not have seen coming, is that they open a candy store together. Lollipops for everyone but the suckers!

Riccitelli Kung Fu Malbec comes from Argentina's Uco Valley. At $30, it probably pairs reasonably well with lollipops. 

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A Bold Red Wine From Southern Italy

At the Mastroberardino winery in Campania, tenth-generation vintner Piero Mastroberardino heads the estate, which was founded in 1878. He was a pioneer, and he works with winemaker Massimo di Renzo. Before 1990, they were the only winery exporting this wine. Fifteen years later, there are nearly 300 producers in the Taurausi DOCG. 

The family has also been active in ampelography, identifying and preserving ancient varieties like Greco and Fiano. Piero's father, Antonio, is often called "The Grape Archaeologist."

The Mastroberardino Radici Taurasi 2020 is a wine which could benefit from spending a lot of time in the cellar. Experts in the field say the Radici Taurasi could easily age for three decades, maybe more. Already, this wine has aged in French and Slovenian oak for two years, with another 24 months in the bottle. The Riserva ages even longer. The grapes are 100% Aglianico from the volcanic soil of Campania.

Radici, which means roots in Italian, has alcohol at 13.5% abv and the price lists at $64, but I see it online in the $35 range.

This wine is extremely dark in color, almost black. Aromas of blackberry, plum, and cassis dominate the nose, with a peppery note also in play. Cedar and vanilla are present, too. The cork, in fact, is one of the most aromatic corks I have ever sniffed. Black fruit defines the palate. Earthy mineral tones give the wine a savory aspect. Tannins are bold, even after decanting. Pair it with a robust meat, like lamb or game. 

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Bargain Pink Wine

I found myself bargain hunting again. I keep telling myself to keep my eyes on the upper shelves, but the lure of a beautiful rosé for hardly any money is too much for me to resist.

The 2024 Castle Rock Winery Rosé of Pinot Noir is made from grapes grown in Monterey County, so I figured I couldn't go wrong. Winemaker Meghan Daniels Rech has her signature on the label. Alcohol stays at 13% abv and it costs only $5 at Trader Joe's. 

This wine has a beautiful, rich salmon color, and great clarity. The nose is subtle, but it shows hints of strawberry, cherry, peach and citrus. The palate displays a medium acidity and feels crisp and refreshing in the mouth. Red fruit dominates the flavor profile, yet the complexity leaves something to be desired. For the $5 price, it’s hard to complain about a wine that tastes good, but I do wish there was more to think about while sipping it. By the pool? Certainly. With a pasta salad? Go for it. I roasted some walnuts while sipping it, and the wine paired well with them. 

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Blood Of The Vines - One Battle After Another

Pairing‌‌‌ ‌‌‌wine‌‌‌ ‌‌‌with‌‌‌ ‌‌‌movies!‌‌‌  ‌‌‌See‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌hear‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌fascinating‌‌‌ ‌‌‌commentary‌‌‌ ‌‌‌for‌‌‌ ‌‌‌these‌‌‌ movies‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌many‌‌‌ ‌‌‌more‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌at‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌From‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Hell.‌‌‌ ‌This week, our films center on battlefields of one type or another. After the fight, a wine pairing for each.

The Battle of Algiers is a 1966 Italian-Algerian film, co-written and directed by Gillo Pontecorvo. It’s about the brutal two-year stretch in the Algerian War that pitted the rebels of the FLN, National Liberation Front, against French authorities. The film was shot in black and white, using hand-held cameras to simulate style of newsreel documentaries. The battle served as the outline for urban guerrilla warfare. Civilians were targeted regularly by both sides. Torture was commonplace as the French struggled to put down the fight for independence. 

The film is so realistic, it's easy to forget that it's not real. It's also not an easy picture to watch, as the depiction of inhuman cruelty takes its toll on the viewer. It is, however, considered one of the greatest films ever made. Italy lauded it as one of a hundred films that changed the nation's collective memory. It is definitely not light entertainment. 

Before the 1950s, Algeria was reportedly the largest exporter of wine in the world. I know, that had me scratching my head, too. The country's exports went largely to France, as a blending agent. Those sales fell off drastically after Algeria won its independence. Many of the grapes used in Algerian wine are, not surprisingly, of French origin. 

Koutoubia Red comes from the Mascara wine region, a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Alicante. It sounds like a great item to pick up if you're ever in Algeria. Sorry, shipping to the U.S. is said to be unavailable or restricted. An easier to find option for Algerian wine is Cuvee du President Rouge, but the shipping is likely to cost more than the wine itself.

The 2000 film Battle Royale may have inspired Squid Game. At least, that's my thinking. Directed by Kinji Fukasaku, the film is about a group of Japanese school children who are sent away for a game of survivor. They are instructed to kill each other, the winner being the last kid standing. Battle Royale might be a trigger for anyone who has endured school violence. 

The movie got Japan's harshest rating and it has been banned in several countries. I'm not surprised to find out that Quentin Tarantino reportedly considers Battle Royale one of his favorite films of recent years. Director Fukasaku died of cancer after undertaking a sequel to this movie. 

Michelle Kazumi Sakazaki makes wine in Napa Valley. To honor her heritage, her Kazumi Wines is the first American brand to grow and produce wine from the ancient Japanese grape, Koshu. The Kazumi Napa Valley Koshu sells for $65.

1962's Battle Beyond the Sun is actually a Soviet sci-fi from a few years earlier. It was re-edited and re-dubbed by a young Francis Ford Coppola, who also shot some new footage. Roger Corman had acquired the film and hired film student Coppola to turn it into something suitable for American audiences. 

The plot centers on two nations involved in a space race, each trying to be the first to reach Mars. The countries are given fictional names and all the characters' names were Americanized. The two competing missions encounter all sorts of outer space trouble as they head for Mars, cosmic debris, fuel shortage, and landing on an asteroid for repairs among them. Who knew there were service stations on asteroids? Oh, and what unplanned landing on a rock in space would be complete without a couple of monsters slugging it out? 

Who gets to Mars first? Who cares? It's a fun ride for those who cut their movie teeth on terrible sci-fi movies of the 1950s. For those who didn't, it's probably a complete bore.

Space Age Rosé is a pink blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Carignane grapes created by Josh Phelps in California's Central Coast. 

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Another Bargain Wine From Trader Joe's

If you have a Trader Joe's market near you, I probably don't have to explain how many good bargain wines are on the shelves there. Anything around the $10 mark or less is worth a shot. The more expensive wines don't disappoint, but if you're a bargain hunter you will be impressed.

The 2025 Trader Joe's Reserve Paso Robles Grenache Blanc Lot #281 is one of those nice bargain wines. It looks like it may have some age, or oak, on it, but it's young and clean. Alcohol sits at 13.2% abv and the price is $10.

This wine has a beautiful golden tint in the glass, which in a young wine might suggest some oak treatment. That is not apparent on the nose or palate here, though. The clarity is exceptional. The somewhat subdued nose gives hints of pear, citrus, and honeydew melon. Minerality does not show in the aroma package, but it does in the flavor profile. The sip has more plentiful notes of lemon, apricot, peach, and a very nice level of acidity. The fruit carries over in a lengthy finish. This is a great sipper, but pair it with shrimp or a tomato sandwich. 

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Jammy Zinfandel At Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's has several lines of branded wines, and they are mostly all thought of fairly highly. The 2024 Trader Joe's Grower's Reserve Zinfandel is cheap, but at TJ's that doesn't mean you should avoid it. The store has a reputation as a good outlet for bargain wines. 

I understand that ASV Wines, the winemaker here, gets organic grapes from the Santa Clara Valley, but they also have addresses in Kern County. The source of the Zinfandel grapes here is not disclosed. The alcohol content is disclosed, 14% abv, and the price is $7 at Trader Joe's.

This wine is colored medium ruby in the glass. The nose is massive, with brilliant red cherry aromas, joined by the smell of red vine candy and an herbal aspect that's a bit like parsley or cilantro. It's a big nose. The palate is just as huge. The red fruit flavors lead the way, with a spearmint note that's especially notable on the jammy finish. There is a moderate acidity and grippy tannins. This wine is made for a meat-lover's pizza, or barbecued pork, dripping with sauce. 

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Blood Of The Vines - Farewell, Tim Curry

Pairing‌‌‌ ‌‌‌wine‌‌‌ ‌‌‌with‌‌‌ ‌‌‌movies!‌‌‌  ‌‌‌See‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌hear‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌fascinating‌‌‌ ‌‌‌commentary‌‌‌ ‌‌‌for‌‌‌ ‌‌‌these‌‌‌ movies‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌many‌‌‌ ‌‌‌more‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌at‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌From‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Hell.‌‌‌ ‌This week we mourn the passing of Tim Curry, with film and wine. 

Not only was Curry's film career solid, but he was also a heck of a musician. His 1981 song "Working On My Tan" was a mainstay in the summer-themed mix tapes that were my obsession back in the day.

His film debut came in 1975, in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, in which he displayed his singing and acting chops. His characterization of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, the transvestite mad scientist, is one of many highlights in the film. There probably isn't a more quoted movie, thanks to the audience participation aspect that has kept it alive and kicking for more than 50 years. Has anyone ever known someone named Janet, and not had the phrase Dammit Janet come up?

Talking back to the screen comes just above ice-rattling and popcorn crunching on my list of movie house hates, but for Rocky Horror, it works. The costume designer reportedly takes credit for popularizing punk fashion styles like wildly colored hair and ripped fishnet stockings. No one ever heard the word anticipation the same way after hearing Tim Curry sing it. In his memory, let's all do the Time Warp.

Domaine Curry is related to Tim Curry in name only, but their Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is as red as the Rocky Horror lips and maybe just as tasty. $100.

1985's Clue starred Curry alongside a smorgasbord of great talent. Eileen Brennan, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull and Lesley Ann Warren add depth to what, at first glance, might appear to be a bit of a ripoff. A movie based on a board game? C'mon. 

As in Rocky Horror, Curry welcomes guests to a mansion, this time as Wadsworth the butler. There's a murder, and the game is afoot. Three different endings were shot, with three different characters responsible for several killings. It was a great idea for getting people to see it more than once, but I don't think it worked as well as the producer had hoped. I guess producers are hard to please. 

Mano's Wines and Hasbro teamed up for a revamped board game, Clue: Murder at the Winery. It comes with an etched bottle of Clue Wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon. Is the killer Lord Malbec in the barrel room with the corkscrew? Perhaps Professor Prosecco with the broken wine bottle in the tasting room. The bottle is $45, the game set is $65. You and your wine sleuth friends will die for it. 

The Shadow, from 1994, has Curry in a supporting role. Alec Baldwin leads the cast, in his leading man days. Funny how he became an even bigger star by doing Trump impersonations. In The Shadow, even when he's invisible, you'll know it's him. 

Curry gets to play a comic book superhero villain here, the sleazy Farley Claymore. It's just a guess, but I would imagine actors love portraying an over-the-top villain. Stand back when he goes through the window. You don't want to get any on ya. 

Monterey's Shadow Point Vineyards Pinot Noir sounds like a clean wine, even in the shadows of the mountains. It was fermented in steel and only 30% of it was aged in French oak. The price averages out to just under $20, depending on your dealer. 

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An Easy Pizza Wine

On the Brigaldara website, there is information on a number of wines, but the one I picked up at my local grocery is absent from the list. That happens to me a lot when I go looking for bargains. 

While Brigaldara focuses on Valpolicella and Amarone, they also apparently bottle a Chianti, made from Tuscan Sangiovese grapes. There is little more I can offer in the way of information. The 2024 Case Vecie Chianti has alcohol at 12% abv and it runs $12 at Whole Foods Market. 

This wine is medium dark ruby in the glass. The nose features dark notes of black cherry, plum, cassis, and a hint of eucalyptus. The palate is dark as well, with cherry, raspberry, and some oak spice to liven it up a bit. The tannins are firm without stinging, and the acidity is lively. Meaty pasta dishes are an easy pairing idea. It's a great wine for a pizza, and you can use it with barbecue, if you like. 

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