Bars & Clubs - Oct. 10, 2009
Uncorked: The worst bartender in Milwaukee
What's so special about bartenders? They're just people cowering behind the safety of a 4-foot barrier who tip a bottle of liquid upside down and pour it into a glass. Your total interaction with them can be as little as a minute or two. How hard can it be? Well, with all the average or below-average bartenders you've experienced, apparently it's harder than it looks. What is it that differentiates good bartenders from bad?
Tagged with: bartenders, bad bartenders, Jaime O'donoghue, county clare, odonoghue's

Bars & Clubs - Oct. 3, 2009
Uncorked: Drink good sake, eat good sushi
Sake is made from rice. It is a brewed alcoholic beverage. There are varying degrees of quality determined by production and the amount milled away from each grain of rice. There are more than 30,000 unique sake labels, almost all from Japan. The unique and distinctive flavors of sake rival the most complex wines. Before Nanakusa opened, there was very little decent sake to be had in the city. That isn't the case now.
Tagged with: sake, nanakusa

Bars & Clubs - Sept. 26, 2009
Uncorked: How to throw a killer wine party
Hosting a group of people who really enjoy wine or want to learn more about wine can be an incredible time. There are, however, a lot of decisions that go into planning such an event. Will it be formal or casual? Will you cook yourself, hire a caterer or ask guests to pitch in by bringing dishes? Collaborating with your guests or keeping the menu smart and relatively easy are two strong options.
Tagged with: hosting a wine party

Bars & Clubs - Sept. 19, 2009
Uncorked: Where in the world is... Bierzo?
Historically, the Bodegas (wineries) in Bierzo produced largely weak and unmemorable wines. But the last two decades have seen superstar winemakers focus on hillside plantings for better exposure and drainage. Some have said that the vineyards are some of the most beautiful in all of Spain with plantings arranged on steep slopes and terraces.
Tagged with: bierzo, wine, thief wine, vino, Mencia, Castilla y leon, Cabernet, Bodegas

Bars & Clubs - Sept. 12, 2009
Uncorked: Why Sprecher is the state's best brewery
Milwaukee didn't garner the moniker "Brew City" for just any old reason; the history and saturation of the beer market is a huge part of the city culture. But Wisconsin isn't just known for its mass produced brews, it has been host to a number of excellent micro-breweries whose number and quality are ever increasing. The best in the field -- in terms of quality and portfolio -- is Sprecher.
Tagged with: sprecher brewery, randy sprecher, wisconsin breweries, craft beer

Bars & Clubs - Sept. 5, 2009
Uncorked: A tasting event at the Park Lafayette
OnMIlwaukee.com wine columnist Nathaniel Bauer will mingle with readers during a tasting event Sept. 16 at Park Lafayette Condominiums, 2025 N. Summit Ave. The format is simple: Come and hang out, see the new space, eat some food, taste some wine. You can tour of the facilities and sample fun wines.
Tagged with: uncorked, park lafayette

Bars & Clubs - Aug. 20, 2009
Uncorked: Why Champagne is good ALL the time
There is a stigma and aristocracy associated with Champagne that the spirit doesn't deserve. For the record, Champagne is sparkling wine, but sparkling wine is not Champagne unless it comes from the region Champagne, France. Although there are many beautiful examples and very well made sparkling wines from around the world, Champagne produces the best sparklers on the planet -- bar none.
Tagged with: uncorked, champagne, cuvee, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay

Bars & Clubs - Aug. 13, 2009
Uncorked: Visiting Napa Valley during the Harvest
Thinking about going to Napa Valley this year for the harvest? Not unless you planned your trip months ago. This week's column covers the most popular tourist season, and the most hectic for wineries, known as the "crush." We'll discuss the pros and cons of braving the masses from September through October in Napa Valley.
Tagged with: napa valley, harvest, the crush

Bars & Clubs - Aug. 7, 2009
Uncorked: Peak time for backyard chillin' and grillin'
Sitting out on the patio with friends, enjoying some tasty brats, hamburgers, ribs and corn on the cob is a pastime that Wisconsinites have mastered as we have a considerably shorter time span in which to practice it. So what better libation to match up with your classic grill fair than ... wine, of course.
Tagged with: wine, grilling, barbecue, backyard, wine pairing

Bars & Clubs - July 30, 2009
Uncorked: Are restaurants ripping customers off?
How often have you walked into a restaurant, opened the wine list and stared wide-eyed at the seemingly ridiculous prices? You scan down the list, looking for one or two of your most recent favorites, find them and can't believe that the restaurant wants $125 for the bottle you paid $35 for last week. Uncorked explores the meaning of this markup, explains the rationale and talks about a world with reasonably-priced wines.
Tagged with: wine, wine lists, wine prices, wine ripoffs, overpriced wine

Bars & Clubs - July 23, 2009
Uncorked: Mobile wine apps -- Yay or nay?
You already lean on your iPhone or Blackberry for help in all kinds of situations. What about when it comes to selecting a wine? An informative app could help you out of a jam. The major problems with these sites is that you have no way to balance the information you just looked up with what is staring you in the face on the retail shelf or in the monstrosity of a wine list open before you.
Tagged with: mobile wine apps, natalie maclean, hellovino.com, iphone, blackberry

Bars & Clubs - July 16, 2009
Uncorked: A conversation with Gaia Gaja
Many people have referred to Angelo Gaja, current owner of Gaja Vineyards, as the King of Piedmont. His eldest daughter, Gaia, is most definitely worthy of the hyperbolized title of Princess. She carries on the family name and tradition with pride and passion, while holding "court" with the perfectly blended air of confidence and grace. During a recent visit to town, she spoke to OnMilwaukee.com wine expert Nathaniel Bauer.
Tagged with: gaja wine, piedmont, gaia gaja, barbaresco, nebbiolo

Bars & Clubs - July 9, 2009
Uncorked: Exploring the Magical Kingdom of Gaja
After five generations, this famed Italian producer has captured the hearts, souls and palates of anyone fortunate enough to experience their amazing wines. Be a part of the magic this week in the first installment of a two-part series on the family history and the wines of Gaja.
Tagged with: gaja, piedmont, Gaia Gaja, uncorked, nathaniel bauer, barbaresco

Bars & Clubs - July 3, 2009
Uncorked: A tribute to the American cocktail
With Independence Day weekend approaching, it seems appropriate to highlight the alcoholic beverage so distinctly American -- the cocktail. We list some of the perennial classics, possible origins and their corresponding original recipes. If you are looking for some inspiration this weekend, try one of these libertarian libations.
Tagged with: american cocktails, mint julep, martini, old fashioned, sazerac

Bars & Clubs - June 25, 2009
Uncorked: Beware "score whores" in the wine world
With tens of thousands of producers worldwide, crazy foreign labels and huge differences in vintages, it's hard for the average consumer to figure out what wine to buy. The rating system changed the face of retail wine purchasing forever, empowering consumers. As much as this power has been a savior, it has become such a bastardized, corrupt and inconsistent system that the numbers assigned to wine often are meaningless.
Tagged with: wine scores, wine spectator, robert parker

Bars & Clubs - June 20, 2009
Uncorked: How do I learn more about wine?
It's a common question. "I really like wine and want to learn more ... where do I start?" In this column, we talk to Katie Espinosa, sommelier and a manager at Mr. B's Bartolotta Steakhouse in Brookfield. In the span of a few years, she's gone from server to manager to sommelier and is on the brink of taking the advanced exam from the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Tagged with: katie espinosa, Mr. B's Bartolotta Steakhouse, sommelier, court of master sommeliers, advanced exam

Bars & Clubs - June 13, 2009
Uncorked: To decant, or not to decant?
Decanters have been around for centuries. Interestingly enough, the reasons for using a decanter haven't changed much at all since their invention during the Roman Empire. Some shapes are more conducive to oxygenation, others more practical for serving. Whatever style you choose or prefer, the reasons for pouring wine from a bottle into a decanter remain pretty straightforward.
Tagged with: uncorked, nathaniel bauer, wine, decanters, decanting

Bars & Clubs - June 5, 2009
Uncorked: In search of delicious summer cocktails
Even though it may seem like summer doesn't want to quite get here, inevitably it will, and we will turn our complaining from "It's too cold" to "It's too hot." With the warm sunny days ahead, it's time to head out on the town to see who is serving up some great summertime cocktails. Whether you prefer Mai Tais, mojitos, Moscow mules, margaritas or tasty beers, you can find a place to cool off in Milwaukee.
Tagged with: summer drinks, wicked hop, sangria, foundation, mai tai, bryant's

Bars & Clubs - May 29, 2009
Uncorked: The "Mythbuster" episode about sulfites
One of the more common misconceptions about the wine world has to do with sulfites and sulfite allergies. Lots of people claim to be allergic to red wine and blame sulfites as the cause, but there are other factors at work. In this week's "Uncorked" column, OnMilwaukee.com wine expert Nathaniel Bauer explores the myths and mystery of sulfites in wine and offers some hints for people who want to enjoy a glass of red without the headache.
Tagged with: wine, red wine, sulfites, sulfite allergies

Bars & Clubs - May 21, 2009
Uncorked: A great Rosé can leave you tickled pink
Every year at about this time, ardent and passionate wine professionals shake their heads, lament and plot to see how they can make this year different than the last. The goal: see how many people they can convert to the wonders of Rosé wine. It's unclear why Rosé gets a bad rap. The best naturally possess the combined characteristics of red and white wine -- the body and fruit qualities of red, mixed with the acidity and vibrancy of whites
Tagged with: uncorked, nathaniel bauer, Rosé wines, thief wine shop, ray's wine & spirits