Rustic and Rewarding

posted by Adam in Snooth, Wine, Guest Bloggers, Music

For this week’s Wine and Music pairing, we have a Michigan based 5 piece band called Frontier Ruckus  and a 2005 Petit Sirah from California based Ursa Vineyards  .

The wine and the music both have a rustic and laid back feel which is very rewarding when the two are enjoyed together. Special thanks to the band’s label Quite Scientific  for letting us post this track 5 weeks before release date. I can only assume from the statement below that folks at Ursa Vineyards would also approve of this pairing.

“We love wine and want everyone else to love it too. We encourage people to taste everything, have fun with pairings & break a few rules.” - Ursa Vineyards

Ursa Vineyards - 2005 Petit Sirah Vineyard Blend

Wine Style: Red: Petit Sirah
Wine Region: California - Paso Robles / Sierra Foothills / Central Coast
Wine Year: 2005
Wine Label: Ursa Vineyards

Wine Link:Ursa Vineyards Petit Sirah

Wine Description: This 2005 Vineyard Blend is a mixture of the Ursa Vineyard’s 2005 roster of Petite Sirahs. It includes 33% of their Central Coast, 33% of their Sierra Foothills, and 33% of their Paso Robles. 425 cases of the Vineyard Blend were produced. It is a fruity and dark wine with a deep texture but it is not overwhelming or abrasive.  It really opens up in the glass and lingers on the palate.

Ursa Vineyards is a collaborative effort between a husband and a wife team who both used to work for David Bruce. All of the fruit is fermented in small fermenters and worked by hand. The handmade approach which this band and this winery take in creating their products offers a very credible and “vintage” experience which is especially present when pairing the two. The barn included on the website for Ursa Vineyards looks like just the sort of place you would find the band Frontier Ruckus performing their songs.
Frontier Ruckus

Music Style:  Folk: Americana
Music Region: Orion Town, Michigan
Music Year: 2008
Music Label:  Quite Scientific
Music Link:  Frontier Ruckus

Music Description:

Frontier Ruckus, as their name alludes, is as honest and down-home Americana as you can get (banjos/story telling) yet maintains a strong sense innovation and modern appeal (one of the more interesting and dynamic websites I have seen in a while). In the same way which the wine is a blend of local regional grapes, so too is this band which includes artists from a few different Michigan regions.

The band’s first album, titled The Orion Songbook (Orion Town is a made up place), is full of mystical lyrics and story telling extravagance. This album is a lyrical roller coaster taking the listener on a wild ride of words and phraseology that can truly be appreciated when you view the entire hand-written “scroll”  of lyrics on their website.

The track included with this post is called “Dark Autumn Hour” and is a perfect track for sunset in October with a glass of this Petit Sirah from Ursa Vineyards.  For added context, check out the band performing this song live.

Dark Autumn Hour

Adam Rabinovitz is Senior Director of Retail Marketing at IODA, the global leader in digital distribution, marketing, and technology solutions for the independent music industry. IODA distributes music from over 4000 labels, representing over 50 different countries and over 170 different genre styles.

A Picturesque Pairing

posted by Adam in Snooth, Wine, Guest Bloggers, Music

Thus far in my Wine and Music pairings (which started in May), I have not included any “classical” music and have focused mostly on summery and zesty tunes that fit nicely with the recent warmer months and with less heavy wines.  As we have now entered the cooler climate and the changing of the seasons, nothing seems more fitting then a purple colored, full bodied red wine and some contemporary piano compositions.

In this case, the artist refers to his material as “Post-Classical” and it’s a blend of classical and electronic.  The album included in this pairing is 24 Postcards in Full Colour from producer/artist/composer Max Richter. An interesting note about this album is that as part of the project, each track has been paired with its own image (there are 24 tracks, 24 postcards images included with the album).

This album is a great match for a Petite Sirah, which packs a more intense punch than a regular syrah. Petite Sirah is said to be better when paired with full flavored foods such as roast beef, or with mature cheeses. In comparison, this album is full of embellishing 2-3 minute compositions which are precise yet powerful, and are chock full of mature emotional flavor. This album is a pleasant and complimentary match for the dark yet inviting essence of this wine.

Sones 2004 Petite Syrah – Monterey County

Wine Style: Red: Petite Sirah
Wine Region:  California: Santa Cruz Mountains
Wine Year: 2004
Wine Label: Sones Cellars
Wine Link: http://www.snooth.com/wine/sones-petite-sirah-central-coast-2003/

Wine Description: This approachable Petite Sirah begins with aromas of cherries and cedar which are followed by flavors of dark berries, oak, and black pepper. This wine has a firm yet subtle texture and a good mouth feel.  There were a total of 145 cases produced. Sones Cellars is a small family winery located in Santa Cruz, California. Their flagship wines are Petite Sirah and Zinfandel. Michael and Lois Sones met in the mid-1980s while working at sea on a cruise ship.

I also mentioned this wine briefly in my previous post as a good pairing with southern rock outfit Delta Spirit. As much as I enjoyed tasting this wine with a rock band, I find that the more compositional aspect of Max Richter really pulls the emotion and the substance out of the wine and leaves room for opening up of flavors.

Max Richter

Music Style:  Classical: Composition
Music Region: London, UK
Music Year: 2008
Music Label:  Fat Cat
Music Link:  http://www.maxrichter.com

Music Description:  German Born, now living in London, Max Richter studied Piano at University of Edinburgh and is said to be heavily influenced by Philip Glass. Richter’s first project was called Piano Circus and was an ensemble of six pianists that has performed all over the world. Max Richter has recently produced albums for folk legend Vashti Bunyan, and for the Scottish rock quartet The Twilight Sad – also on the Fat Cat label. Max has also performed and written with electronic luminaries such as Future Sound of London and Roni Size.

The name of this track is “H in New England” and it includes gently cascading and fluxing trails of piano. It is both complex and simple and includes a series of emotionally gripping crescendos. It reminds me a lot of the changing of the seasons (and the leaves in New England) that starts later in September.

H in New England

Adam Rabinovitz is Senior Director of Retail Marketing at IODA, the global leader in digital distribution, marketing, and technology solutions for the independent music industry. IODA distributes music from over 4000 labels, representing over 50 different countries and over 170 different genre styles.