Tonight, Mary Richardson spins several stories from the culinary world, literally taking her from soup to nuts. She gets a hands on lesson in oyster shucking, learns how a local entrepreneur is helping others pursue their foodie dreams, and visits the local outpost of a French institution, Le Cordon Bleu. Plus, she walks, talks and noshes her way through the rich ethnic offerings along Harvard Street in Brookline.

Food Journal: Segment One

Food Journal: Segment Two

Food Journal: Segment Three

Food Journal: Segment Four

Wines for Our Times: Priced Under $15
Recommended by Aimee Cronin, Wine Portfolio Manager for Martignetti's

Nowadays, everyone loves a bargain! Here is a list of wines that usually retail within the $10-$15 range and are great values for the price.
We chose wines from around the world that are not only interesting, unique and great values, but also easy to find. It is likely your local wine shop carries several of the wines on this list. If not, they may be able to order it for you, if you ask!

RED WINES

(Wine Name, Wine Type, Region)

Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile
Tapena Garnacha, Garnacha, Spain
Argento Malbec, Malbec, Argentina
Colorés del Sol Malbec, Malbec, Argentina
Luigi Bosca “La Linda” Malbec, Malbec, Argentina
Terrazas de Los Andes Malbec, Malbec, Argentina
Sonoma Vineyards Merlot, Merlot, California
Lyeth Meritage, Red Blend - Bordeaux Varietals, California
Louis Bernard Côtes Du Rhône, Red Blend - Rhône Varietals, France
Liberty School Syrah, Syrah, California
Lockwood “Estate” Syrah, Syrah, California
Vina Gormaz Tempranillo, Tempranillo, Spain
Bogle Vineyards “Old Vine” Zinfandel, Zinfandel, California
Deep Purple Zinfandel , Zinfandel, California
Ravenswood Zen of Zin Zinfandel, Zinfandel, California

WHITE WINES

(Wine Name, Wine Type, Region)

Oyster Bay Chardonnay, Chardonnay, New Zealand
Montinore Gewürztraminer, Gewürztraminer, Oregon
Penfolds “Thomas Hyland” Riesling, Riesling, Australia
Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Riesling, Riesling, California
Domaine de Triennes Rosé, Rosé Blend, France
Lockwood “Estate” Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, California
Rodney Strong “Charlotte’s Home” Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, California
Seaglass Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, California
Morandé Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chile
Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand
Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa
Luigi Bosca “La Linda” Torrontés, Torrontés, Argentina
Rodriguez Basa Rueda, Verdejo, Spain
Peter Lehman Layers, White Blend, Australia
Sakonnet Petite White , White Blend, New England

When on your own, the key to finding good values is to be adventurous. Here are some insider tips on how to find great wine at a great price:

1) Go South. Great wine values can be found all over the world, but the southern hemisphere is a bargain hub: Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa reliably offer great values at every price point. Key varietals here are trendy Malbec and Sauvignon Blanc, and classic Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

2) Explore with lesser-known varietals, like Garnacha (aka Grenache), Gewürztraminer, Tempranillo, Torrontés or Verdejo. Though not so commonplace in the U.S., wines have been made from these grapes for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years and winemakers tend to take great pride in these traditional, yet off-beat, creations.
3) Opt for a different varietal from an established producer or region. For example, Australia’s Penfolds is famous for Shiraz and many know California’s Kendall-Jackson for Chardonnay, but both also offer delicious, fragrant, dry Rieslings at very attractive prices! Also, look for Syrah from California which are made from the same grape as Australian Shiraz, but are closer in style to famed Syrah-based wines from France’s Rhône region. These wines offer remarkable complexity for the price.
4) Try a blend. Blending different grapes to make fine wine is a traditional practice worldwide, but American consumers gravitate towards labels listing one grape varietal and you can often find beautiful blended wines for amazing values. Some of the most famous wines in the world are blends: pricey Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe wines from France are blends of 13 or more different varietals!
5) Buck the trend. The movie Sideways did a number on Merlot’s reputation. The late 80’s White Zinfandel trend led consumers to believe rosé was sweet and zinfandel was white. Truth is, Zinfandel is one of California’s oldest red varietals, and yields wines that are full, fruity, complex, approachable, and some might say “Zinful.” Some of the world’s most famous and expensive wines are made from Merlot (think right bank Bordeaux!) and California, in particular, offers some amazing values on this soft, supple, noble wine. However, the industry’s best kept secret may be rosé – generally inexpensive, but full of delicate berry and floral notes, pros know to think pink for some of the best values in the world.
And when in doubt, don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations! There are thousands of wines out there, but the search does not need to be overwhelming. Wine buyers are eager to share their enthusiasm for wines and help you find a wine that suits your taste and budget.

Show Resources:

Wine Sommelier’s Group
meagher@post.harvard.edu
Michael Meagher/Sommelier on Demand

Jewish and Russian Food Tours of Brookline
Brookline Tours

Le Cordon Bleu/Technique Restaurant
Le Cordon Bleu

Teddie Peanut Butter
Teddie Peanut Butter

Lucy Valena (Coffee Entrepreneur)
Voltage Coffee

The Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams Beer)
Sam Adams

Samuel Adams Brewing the Dream (loans for food and beverage start-ups)
Brewing the Dream

Mercato del Mare (oyster shucking lessons)
99 Salem Street
Boston (North End)
(857) 362-7477
Mercato del Mare

Aids Action Committee (Taste of the South End)
Aids Action Committee