Chenin Blanc

Like Singh, many of us find the world of wine difficult to navigate thanks to seemingly-unpronounceable words. Here’s a pronunciation primer on some of the most common — and trickiest — terms.

This is a popular white grape variety. “I’ve heard people call it sauvignon blank. The correct pronunciation is so-veen-yawn blahn,” says Vikram Achanta of Tulleeho Wine Academy.

The bubbly has been the source of the funniest pronunciation blooper for Verma. “Someone once called it shampaagney,” he says with a little laugh. What’s the correct way to pronounce it? “Sham-pain”, informs Verma.

Full Story: Word your wine right - Hindustan Times

Pirelli tyre fortune, she should know all about rubber and the burnt rubber character some UK wine journos pick up in SA reds.

Glenwood Sémillon 2007 , R160).

Gummi is also popular in Australia, leading wine exporter to the UK. In 2008 “I am your gummy bear (the gummy bear song)” charted at number 12 in the Australian Singles Chart. The music video features a bear in yellow underpants and sneakers break-dancing to the lyrics “Oh I’m a yummy, tummy, funny, lucky gummi bear” although disturbingly, someone seems to have bitten off part of his upper left ear. Perhaps it was a wine writer.

Full Story: Goldilocks and the Gummi Bears - Times LIVE (blog)

Save the whales, the rain forest, the ozone layer? Let’s start with saving your job. Our recession-era guide to thinking green offers tips on how to tap into the green economy, eco-size your home and wallet, and reinvent your career for a more sustainable future.

Seal up your house and save some bucks.

In the 1950s and ’60s, the Bethlehem Steel mills of Sparrows Point were the largest integrated steelworks in the world. Fed by an unprecedented economic boom, the industry gave a generation of working-class Baltimoreans a chance to live the American Dream. But the good times didn’t last forever.

Full Story: EAT/DRINK - Urbanite Baltimore

Thrill or Swill: A Pinot Grigio Worth Paying For...

The Loire Valley in France is home to some terrific wines, with some of the most horrific names in all of winedom. Bourgeuil, Bonnezeaux, Pouilly-Fumé, Saumur-Champigny -- all can be tongue twisters. (Even Chinon and Muscadet can present some pronunciation challenges.) That said, the sheer quality and versatility of these wines deserves a few moments of French language lessons so that you can order, discuss or demand them proudly and without fear.

Today's lesson in pedantry is Savennières ( say it with us : sah-veh-NYAIR), a tiny appellation on the Loire near the city of Angers, just 80 miles from the Atlantic. How tiny? The portion of the appellation actually planted with vines is about half the size of Forest Park. Despite its diminutive size, Savennières produces a benchmark, powerful dry white wine.

Full Story: Thrill or Swill: Savennières! Say Va-What? - Riverfront Times (blog)

One proven strategy is to look to lesser-known winemaking regions: the Loire Valley instead of Burgundy; Croatia instead of Germany; South Africa instead of California.

South Africa, for example, has for centuries made white chenin blanc. They call it ``steen.'' It's grown very little in the rest of the world, and when well-made it can be crisp and fruity. Since it's not a hot commodity, it can be cheap, too. Like South Africa's other popular white, sauvignon blanc, it benefits from cool weather and fog blowing up from Antarctica.

Also emerging is an even lesser-known red wine called pinotage. Created in South Africa in 1925 as a cross between pinot noir and cinsault, it had a rocky debut on the world stage because when poorly made it smelled of acetone. ``Spray paint wine,'' it was called.

Full Story: Want cheap? Seek out lesser-known regions - MiamiHerald.com