Editor’s Note
First, we want to apologize for our recent lapse in publication. Summer typically is a lazy time of year. But we truthfully fell victim to a number of exciting changes soon to be announced.

If you haven't visited us recently, you will also find a variety of new products at the store, including but not limited to rums, tequilas, old-world liquors, beers, bourbons, cognacs and cigars.

But more importantly, we are getting back on track and we promise to continue with our regular publication of the Vintage Voice.

In this issue, we explore the white wines of France and alternatives for traveling with your favorite cigars.

As always, you will also find a coupon for the monthly selections at the bottom of the newsletter.

As for the wine tastings, we are still committed to setting up a regular wine tasting. But unfortunately, we need further guidance from our regulators prior to starting.

In the meantime, we look forward to seeing you at the store and we truly hope that you will find our causal musings entertaining, enticing and informative.

The Whiter Side of France
When thinking about summer white wines, Bordeaux and Burgundy rarely arise as primary candidates. After all, aren't Bordeaux and Burgundy necessarily red wines?

That is a common misconception. Bordeaux along with Burgundy are just as respected for thier white wines as are the Loire Valley and Alsace. In fact, some of the world's best white wines are made in Burgundy and Bordeaux.

But when it comes to French white wines, it would still be fair to assume that Alsace and the Loire Valley wines remain some of the better values.

The Best of the Best
Unlike Bordeaux and Burgundy, Alsace and the Loire Valley are better known for their white wines because these two regions specialize in growing white grapes.

Both regions are located in northern France, where the cooler climate and a shorter growing season are better suited for white grapes.

In Alsace, the primary grapes include the Pinot Blanc, Riesling and Gewurztraminer. The highest quality wines are the Rieslings, which also account for the most grapes planted.

The Loire Valley, in turn, is best known for the Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc grapes. But unlike Alsace wines, Loire Valley wines are classified by style and include some of the country's best known styles.

From Pouilly Fumé to Vouvray
The four main styles of Loire Valley wines are Pouilly-Fumé, the Muscadet, Sancerre and Vouvray.

The Pouilly-Fumé is a dry, fully bodied wine that is made with Sauvignon Blanc grapes. The Muscadet is light, dry wine made from Melon grapes.

The town of Sancerre, and surrounding vineyards

In contrast, the Sancerre is a balance between the fulled bodied Pouilly-Fumé and light bodied Muscadet made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes. And the Vourvray, made from Chenin blanc grapes, is the most versatile style and can be either dry, semisweet, or sweet.

Latest Trends and Best Values
Of all the Loire Valley white wines, the most known style once was the Pouilly-Fumé. But over the last few years, the Poulilly-Fumé has been overtaken by the Sancerre (though both have a similar style and the Sancerre tends to be more expensive).

But despite the growing intrest in the Sancerre, one of the best values remains the Muscadet. Unlike the Sancerre, the Muscadet remains an affordable style that has undergone a similar remarkable increase in quality without the accompanying increase in price.

The Whites of Bordeaux and Burgundy
Along with the growth in Sancerre wines, another significant shift in French wines has been the growth in Bordeaux white wines.

These wines are classified by the name of the chateau, or vineyard, that produced the wine. As always, the type of soil and direction of slope are the primary factors affecting the quality.

The levels of quality are the village wine, or wine that bears the name of the village; Premier Cru, or a specific vineyard with special characteristics; and Gran Cru, a specific vineyard with especially good soil and growing conditions.

Banking on Burgundy
Out of Bordeaux and Burgundy appleations, the best known vineyards are in Burgundy, whose white wines are among the world's most renowned.

These wines include the Chablis, the Côte De Beaune, the Côte Chalonnaise, and Mâconnais.

Of those wines, the most famous is the Chablis, whose name unfortunately has become associated with some very undistinguished wines due to the lack of “copyright” protection. However, the French are serious about their Chablis wines, which use the same classifications for quality as Bordeaux wines, and a French Chablis is assuredly very different wine than the generic “Chablis” wines.

Choosing the Right White
Choosing the right white really is just a matter of taste. If anything, experts say the quality of French white wines has gotten significantly better in recent years, resulting in a wider selection of good French white wines.

The most important factor therefore will be the grape variety. And as with most wines, the best way to learn which variety has the most personal appeal is through experimentation. In other words… cheers!

Have Smoke, Will Travel
Nothing is better than a good cigar while on vacation. But when traveling, cigars need an extra measure of protection from both physical damage, including but not limited to drying.

What's the best way to protect that cigar?

The Travel Humidor
The cigar could be slipped into a makeshift humidor, using plastic bags. But the ideal solution really is to invest in a travel humidor.

Choosing the right humidor simply requires reviewing several factors.

First, the humidor should be large enough to accomidate the size and shape of the cigars you smoked most often. Next, the humidor should be durable enough to withstand significant jostling (after all, you might find yourself constantly opeing the case for inspectors.) And finally, the humidification unit should be solidly installed so that it doesn't fall off when sprinting for a flight, taxi or being jammed into an overhead compartment.

Travel humidors typically resemble small cigar boxes and can be purchased at most smoke shops. The majority are made of wood and can accomodate between 10 to 25 cigars.

Humidor vs. Tubes
Sometimes, though, a travel humidor will be too big. In those cases, you can also use tubes or leather cases.

The largest drawback to tubes and leather cases is that they carry a limited supply of cigars and they rarely can keep the cigar for longer than two to three days. In addition, cigars that are packed in tubes are just a so-called "one-at-a-time" solution.

The Compromise
A compromise between the tubes and travel humidors are the finger cases, which essentially are tubes that can upto five cigars.

These finger cases often are adjustable and can fit cigars of several different sizes. These are called "open cases" and they typically come in plastic, leather or silver.

The leather and silver cases are by far the most elegant. However, when buying a leather case, it is imperative to ensure that the case is lined so that the cigar will not take on a "leathery" flavor.

Think Accessory
Selecting the right case can take time. Yet, it pays to choose carefully.

The right cigar case is not only functional, it is also an accessory. As such, it will either distinguish you as a "person of taste" or "tasteless person."

Therefore, it might be worthwhile to invest in a variety of travel cases. In the end, a "wardrobe" of cases is not only an investment in protection-- it will also be a statement of taste. 

Recipe: Limoncello Cooldown
Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur which some people find to be almost too strong. But simply adding some ice and soda turns it into a brilliantly refreshing drink that brings a lemon chill to the hottest summer day.

Ingredients
2 oz Limoncello (or to taste)
Club soda

Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour Limoncello over the ice. Fill the rest of the galss with club soda, stir, and serve.

Other liqueurs make great refreshers too. Try Chambord, Campari, or any other sweet, strong liqueur. You'll find that the soda brings out flavors which normally are not easily appreciated against the full strength liqueur.