|
Month by month the calendar takes you through the seasons, telling the story of the vinicultural year. The art consist of 12 original, vibrant, semi-abstract illustrations of the grapes' journey from vineyard to bottle. As an accompaniment to the calendar, check back here monthly for a new wine of the month. The wines were selected because they are unusual, generally available and artisanal. They are deserving wines that do not get enough attention in a crowded wine market. It will make a colorful reminder that wine is an indispensable pleasure of life. Hang it in your kitchen, your wine space, your office. Give it to your family and friends, your clients, anyone who aspires to know a little more about distinctive wines. |
|
The remaining months of the 2010 calender will be available for purchase or download here in mid-March.
Each printed calendar is $20 + tax
Shipping is $2
Downloading the calender is free. You may print it out yourself or use it as a screensaver on your computer. We ask for a $10 donation to support all of the creative effort that went into the calendar's creation. Thank you!
|
January, 2010 Never say never…. The original calendar came out at the same time the economy took a major dip in 2008. Given the financials, we’d made the decision not to produce another calendar for 2010. But, due to much interest at the end of the year, we decided we’d continue – only this time in a smaller, more compact format. If you wish to receive the first 4 months of the 2010 calendar, compliments of vinartculture, please send your request and address to us. If you enjoy the calendar, the remaining 8 months will be available here around March 15, 2010. There you will be able to either download and print the calendar yourself, or order a printed copy. We’ve made a few changes based on the feedback we got from friends and fans. As it did last year, each month’s page contains an original work of art that is inspired by the year in wine (along with relevant calendar-y graphics). But this year, instead of the text page, we decided to post the information about the wine of the month on our website. The highlighted dates on the calendar are important holidays. Be sure to check back each month for the latest installment of wine writing and seasonal food pairing ideas. And for more information on the latest in food, wine and art, you can always check out our blog at vinartculture.wordpress.com (where we also detail the monthly wine dinners we’ve been holding, centered on the calendar wines). Cheers, and here’s to a year full of art, wine and sustenance. Carla Aurich vinartculture |
Artwork: Carla Aurich Graphics: Peter Ferko Photography: Antoon Tagon Website: Daniela Molnar |
|
Corbieres For a month that promises warm but then blows cold, what better wine than Corbieres, which speaks both of warm Mediterranean sun and wind-blown heights? And the sturdy welcoming fruit of Corbieres is at its best alongside the slow recipes that coax flavor out of March’s long-cellared or long-traveled produce. Corbieres itself is an appellation of contrast – being the largest AOC in the Languedoc, for a start, means a variety of terroirs (eleven have been tentatively suggested). From tumbled high rocky hills to sea-level sand, with soils of schist, limestone, sandstone, and marl, Corbieres has a little of it all. Carignan is the major grape player, along with Grenache, Mouvedre, and Syrah. Incorrectly maligned as being coarse, Carignan gives the best wines of Corbieres a snappy, juicy finesse (here I’m thinking of the delicious wines of Domaine des Deux Anes). And even when there is a hint of the barnyard, there is also a warm and exuberant backing of fruit (here I’m thinking of Domaine de Fonsainte). True, there is much Corbieres that falls into the "truckstop red" category (French truck stops, that is). True, a certain number of the vineyards are flat and industrially farmed. But enough again are tiny parcels in the rocky hills, farmed by people who stubbornly prefer to stay off the beaten track. On both counts, it means that Corbieres is inexpensive, and bound to remain so. A good one should be bought by the case and drunk for every day. So as March roars in like a lion, take a little time to throw some beef and carrots on the stove to braise all day. Half a bottle of Corbieres for the stew, the rest for you. Notice that dark is falling a little later these days and know that spring is on the way. And so we can also look forward to a new vintage of Corbieres Rose, which will be delightfully bright pink and quaffable and fresh! |
site by daniela molnar design