Chile, like its neighbor over the Andes, Argentina, has long been a discount darling of the wine world, especially in the U.S. market. Funny thing though: The winemaking has generally improved to world-class quality over the past few decades, but the prices have stayed low. That means you can enjoy a top bottle from one of Chile’s renowned growing regions—Bio Bio Valley, Maule Valley, Maipo Valley, and more—and rarely spend more than $20 in the process.

In addition to value, the variety of Chilean wines covers a wide spectrum befitting the range of territory the country occupies. From the floral minerality of its Sauvignon Blanc, to the soft, consistent flavor of its Carménère, to the muscular, robust power of its Cabernet Sauvignon (to name just a few) Chile is certainly not a one-grape pony.

If you’ve never tried a Chilean wine, or just want to compare its different varietals back-to-back, join us here at Just Grapes tomorrow, September 4, as we showcase Chilean wines during our free Saturday tasting from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. We’ll be opening/sampling these bottles, and more:

2008 Cono Sur Vision, Sauvignon Blanc, Casablanca Valley, Chile [$12.39]

The 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Vision has precision aromatics featuring mineral, citrus, and lemon-lime. Balanced, vibrant, and long, it is meant to be enjoyed over the next 12-18 months.

2008 Agustinos Chardonnay, Bio Bio Valley, Chile [$11.99]

Lean, bright golden-yellow in color with good fruit intensity on the nose and aromas of quince and pear with a bit of vanilla. The smooth palate shows a firm acidity that lends freshness and ends with a nice, long finish.

2007 Odfjell Armador, Carmenere, Maule Valley, Chile [$11.59]
Ruby-red. Cherry, dark berries and roasted coffee on the nose, with a subtle tobacco note adding complexity. Gently sweet red and dark berry flavors show good concentration and are framed by dusty tannins. Becomes livelier with air and finishes with good tangy cut. Very nicely balanced wine that will work well with lighter red meat dishes.

2008 Errazuriz “Don Maximiano Estate Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon, Aconcagua Valley, Chile [$15.99]

Phenomenal value from a remarkable producer. Errazuriz produces deeply extracted rich, spicy Cabernet Sauvignon. This single vineyard example shows notes of boysenberry and raspberry, with some Gnome’s Foot characteristics and a long finish. If this wine came out of California, you’d pay at least double the price, but since it isn’t you can enjoy it for under $20! – Joshua’s Staff Pick

Many people will use the upcoming Labor Day weekend to reflect on their own employment—bosses, co-workers, long-hours, deadlines, salaries, stress, and more. Others will simply be thankful to have a job. Others will only remember that they have three days off, and shouldn’t wear white anymore.

Whatever the situation, here at Just Grapes we’re working hard to help you put your own profession in perspective, by offering you the “fruits” of labor from vineyards around the world. Be sure to stop by this week and pick up a few of these bottles, as you ponder:

What you would say after receiving an underwhelming raise:

2008 Big Woop Chardonnay, Viognier, and Pinot Gris White Blend, South Eastern Australia [$14.99]

The color of this wine is like a faint ray of sunshine. Pineapple and lemon on the nose. Nice acidity on the palate, with a hint of pear, strong lemons finish of lingering, palate cleansing acidity.

What you would give to an impatient, demanding boss:

2006 Tilda Petulence, 93% Syrah, 7% Grenache, Columbia Valley, Washington [$12.79]

Tilda’s Petulance 2006 is bright and charming, blended from young vines born and bred in the Columbia Valley of Washington State. Raised by caring and tempered hands, this wine was inspired in part by the wonderful everyday-drinking wines of the Rhone Valley of southern France. She boasts a playful button nose of violets and gingerbread, a screaming palate of candied black fruits with a wild finish, thankfully balanced by structure and freshness.

What it would be like to work one hour less each day:

2008 Siete 7 Grenache Tempranillo Blend, Navarra, Spain [$11.99]
This wine is violet and has purple-tinged edges; It possesses strong aromatics, smelling like incense, green bell peppers and other spices. In the mouth you will find raspberries, a little burnt rubber, and an earthy finish punctured by cayenne spice that really bit my tongue. After a couple of days, the spiciness subsides some, and the black and blue fruits are more present. Drinking beautifully for the value.

What it would be like to lighten the labor of pulling a cork:

Rabbit Corkscrew [$39.95]

The Rabbit Corkscrew from Metrokane is quick like a bunny! It will pull a wine cork in 3 seconds flat. After uncorking, the Rabbit Corkscrew quickly and easily ejects the cork from the worm. This popular corkscrew has been redesigned with a precision, metal gear mechanism that’s laboratory tested to last through more than 10,000 uncorkings. The ergonomic design with black soft rubber grip pads puts an end to awkward wine bottle opening. Used by professionals. Includes foil cutter and presentation box. Carries a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Fall is, in many minds, the time when harvest beings and the year’s bounty in crops is collected. It’s essentially the end of the growing season here in the Northern Hemisphere, but when it comes to wine, harvest can technically happen at any time during the year, depending on where the grapes are being grown—the Southern Hemisphere gathers during our spring—and what kind of wine is desired. Icewine grapes, for example, are often picked in January.

We celebrate wine around the calendar here at Just Grapes, but the first Wednesday of every month is when we really raise our glasses and offer our bottled bounty. Join us this Wednesday, September 1, for our fall-themed First Wednesday Tasting from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m (click here for tickets) and sample more than two-dozen wines, including:

2008 Seven Hills Pinot Gris, Oregon [$11.99]

Seven Hills Pinot Gris is whole cluster pressed immediately after picking to preserve the delicate flavor of the fruit. The wine is a brilliant lemon-straw color with aromas of citrus, pear and spearmint. The palate echoes the nose showing pear and hazelnut accented with citrus notes. Finished dry, there is an intense fruitiness promoting a harmony with the crisp finish.

2004 Le Miccine Chianti Riserva, Tuscany, Italy [$29.59]
Le Miccine is a small Tuscan wine estate located near the geographic center of Tuscany’s Chianti Classico wine region, half-way between Florence and Siena, near the historic towns of Gaiole-in-Chianti and Radda-in-Chianti. It has been part of the Tuscan landscape since the early 1700s, when it served as a way-station for travelers requiring a change of teams on their journeys through the Tuscan hills. Now, 300 years later, Le Miccine is known for its fine wines and olive oil and its elegant and exclusive Tuscan vacation rental accommodations.

2007 Hendry Pinot Noir, Napa Valley, California [$36.99]

The 2007 Pinot Noir entices with classic aromas of cherry, earth, leather and baking spice. Cocoa, ripe cherries and toast continue to emerge with further exposure to oxygen in the glass. The palate confirms aromatic hunches, along with good body, firm structure and palate-piquing acidity. This wine would lend itself beautifully to richer fish, such as grilled or cedar-planked salmon, herbed squab or quail, or a wild mushroom risotto.

2009 Brodilia Cortese di Gavi, Piemont, Italy [$19.19]

Gavi di Gavi la Meirana is a single vineyard. La Meirana is one of the oldest and most famous vineyards in Piedmont. The document, dated 971 AD, which states the origin of the name “Gavi”, preserved at the Record Office in Genoa, mentions vineyards and chestnut woods on a spot called Meirana. Gavi is made exclusively from Cortese grapes.

2009 Leth Gruner Veltliner, Wagram, Austria [$14.39]

The soil of the Wagram region of Austria is considered to be one of the best types for growing Gruner Veltliner. The Leth Winery is known for producing wines that beautifully express this unique ”terroir.” This is a dry white, with flavors of white pepper and a distinct minerality.

Part of what makes Just Grapes more than “the place with the Enomatic” (that’s the tasting machine on the left in the photo) is our friendly, wine-obsessed staff. We’re not clock punchers half asleep thinking about being somewhere else—we’re right where we want to be.

Surrounded by beautiful bottles and varietals from dozens of countries, we get to taste and learn about each one, getting paid for what many people pursue passionately as a hobby.

In addition, owner Don Sritong brings us together each month and tests us about specific growing regions (usually in the room on the bottom right in the photo.) We also write/present reports about the history of wine in certain countries, and we engage in blind tastings to identify, for example, why a Shiraz from Australia tastes different from a French Syrah, even though it’s the same grape.

It keeps us sharp, and we’re ready to answer any question a customer might have, from what to pair with dinner, to how to pronounce “Gewürztraminer.”

Eventually, we all discover certain bottles in the store that really speak to us, and become our personal favorites—ones that we recommend to you without hesitation. Below are a just a few wines that have earned the right to be called a “Staff Pick” at Just Grapes:

Pete’s Staff Pick:

2007 Mendel Malbec, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina [$21.59]

“When I traveled to Argentina I was amazed by the culinary and wine culture. Malbec is king down there and was perfect when trying many of the local beef dishes, offal, and goat. This was a wine I had with beef cheeks and pork belly and I can still taste the combination. I will never forget the experience or the wine.”

Moira’s Staff Pick:

NV Bisol “Jeio” Rose, Valdobbiadene, Prosecco, Veneto, Italy [$11.19]
“Looks like a rosé, smells like a rosé … it’s a rosé! You really can’t beat this sparkler to beat the heat and have some fun. So, crisp, cool and refreshing with notes of cranberry and white lilac. Let the bubbles tickle your throat as you enjoy a glass outside with family and good friends before the summer ends!”

Maggie’s Staff Pick:

2007 Domaine Parent, Pinot Noir, Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy, France [$16.79]

“A really great deal for delicious red Burgundy! An earthy Pinot Noir that has ripe red fruits and a masculine backbone to it. It certainly over-delivers for the price point and will pair great with grilled salmon.”

Understanding wine is probably a bit like learning an NFL playbook: Even if you have the basics down, there are dozens of variables and changes that always bring something new to the situation—it’s a constant learning curve, and very few can master it.

While wine education isn’t unpleasant like… say… Jay Cutler trying to learn Mike Martz’s new offensive schemes, true knowledge of wine does require lots of practice for your palate. That means opening unfamiliar bottles and varietals, and in short, getting out of your comfort zone.

As the Bears get ready to kick off their first 2010 pre-season home game on Saturday against the Oakland Raiders, now is a great time to practice your Xs and Os—or BordeauXs and MammolOs. Here at Just Grapes, we can get you started with these “plays”, and help improve your “skills” all season long:

Drink this when Jay Cutler tosses a Hail Mary:

2007 Roots Run Deep “Educated Guess” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California [$17.59]
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Rich, ripe and focused with juicy blackberry and cherry fruit, cocoa and hints of mint all tied together with a creamy French vanilla middle and a finish that in a word is… lingering. Educated Guess fills all the requirements that a serious cabernet lover is looking for, while remaining fun, approachable, and food friendly!

Drink this every time Robbie Gould kicks a field goal:

2007 Trevor Jones “Boots” Grenache, Barossa Valley, South Australia [$12.39]

Lithe, polished and nicely focused, with mulberry and cherry fruit against a slightly peppery background. Drink now through 2011. 1,000 cases made.

Drink this watching Olin Kreutz during a midfield running play:

2008 “Block 50” Pinot Grigio, Central Ranges, New South Wales, Australia [$7.99]
Block 50 aspires simply to be fun to drink and to deliver refreshing, crisp, compelling acidity, with palate richness and a bit of spiciness. A bit of Pinot Grigio and a bit of Alsace. Old and new. Lifted lemon curd, a pithy nose, and lots of ripe honeysuckle. Slight nutty and yeasty complexity, a bright lemony finish with crisp, layered, and balanced acid.

Drink this wishing Thomas Jones was back in a Bear uniform:

2009 “Chemistry” White Blend, Oregon [$12.79]

From Chehalem, this “everything but the kitchen sink” blend of white grapes is bold and yet balanced, with a tropical component to the panoply of stone fruit and mineral notes. A fantastic sipping wine and a great alternative to Conundrum.

That’s a pretty bold statement in the world of wine, and especially within legendary Montalcino—a hilltown in Tuscany blessed with some of the finest vineyards in the world.

It’s an area famous for producing Brunello, which is a clone of the Sangiovese grape, and thrives in Montalcino’s climate. To say one winemaker is the best in a region known for making spectacular bottles could end up in a passionate punch-up if you’re not careful.

Nobody would argue though, that winemaker Giacomo Neri, and the wines produced at his Casanova di Neri estate, put him on the short list to be crowned “Master of Montalcino.” His wines are carefully structured, complex, and built to last, setting a benchmark for quality in the region.

We’d all love to take a trip to Casanova di Neri and meet Giacomo, but we’re doing the next best thing: We’re bringing a bit of Montalcino and Casanova di Neri to Just Grapes, along with Giacomo as our special guest. He’ll be hosting a Master Class of his wines on Friday, August 27, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (click here for tickets)

Before then, be sure to stop by and brush up on Giacomo’s Brunello, and other Casanova di Neri classics, getting a preview of what we’ll be pouring/tasting/poring over during the event:

2008 Rosso di Casanova di Neri, 90% Sangiovese, 10% Colorino, Tuscany, Italy [$29.99]
90 Pts – Robert Parker

The 2008 Rosso di Montalcino (labeled Rosso di Casanova di Neri for the US) is a beautiful, impeccably balanced wine. There is lovely transparency and elegance to the fruit in an expression of Sangiovese that offers gorgeous roundness in a mid-weight, elegant style. The finish is long, soft and caressing. Even better, this is an outstanding value. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2013.

2005 Tenuta Nuova Brunello di Montalcino, Tenuta Nuova, Tuscany, Italy [$90.99]

93 Pts – Robert Parker
The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is quite a bit darker and richer than the straight Brunello. Cherries, plums, spices and French oak meld together beautifully in this silky, textured red. In 2005 the Tenuta Nuova boasts fabulous overall balance in a fairly restrained style for this bottling. Kirsch, roses and spices linger on the dark, enveloping finish. This is a terrific effort from Casanova di Neri. The Tenuta Nuova is made from vineyards in Le Cetine and Pietradonice, both located in the southern part of Montalcino. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022.

2006 Casanova di Neri Pietradonice, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tuscany, Italy [$119.99]
93 Pts – Robert Parker
The 2006 Pietradonice (Cabernet Sauvignon) explodes from the glass with the essence of blackberry jam, French oak, grilled herbs and cassis. This super-ripe, opulent wine offers tons of finesse in a full-bodied style. This is a gem from proprietor Giacomo di Neri.

2004 Casanova Di Neri Brunello Cerretalto [$191.99]

96 Pts – Robert Parker
The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is deep and powerful in its smoke, tar, spices, scorched earth and plums. The wine has shut down quite a bit since I last tasted it a few months ago, and the refined silky tannins that were present a while back have turned decidedly virile. Still, the wine’s pedigree is impossible to miss, and the only thing this needs is time, probably lots of it. Pretty scents of soy, smoke and incense inform the long, elegant finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024.

The Chicago Air & Water Show returns to Lake Michigan this weekend, with more than two-million people expected to pack the lakefront on Saturday and Sunday.

Even though the City of Chicago prohibits alcohol at the event, that doesn’t mean you can’t find a rooftop downtown, or simply stay home and throw your own Air & Water Show party. You’ll still hear/feel the jets buzzing by (I can hear them practice as I write this), have easy access to “essential” facilities, and it’ll be far less crowded.

Best of all though, we’ve got the supplies to complete the theme here at Just Grapes. Stop by and pick up some of these items to help keep your Air & Water Show party afloat, soaring often, and never sinking:

Drink this while watching the Blue Angels:

187ML Heidsieck Blue Top, Champagne, France [$9.59]
A non-vintage bubbly from one of the most prestigious Champagne houses, Heidsieck & Co. Monopole. Blue Top was the official champagne aboard the ill-fated Titanic. When you pop open a bottle of this super premium sparkler, you’ll know why the world has been singing champagne’s praises for centuries.. Elegant and expressive, this delivers floral, pear and toffee flavors matched to a creamy texture. Beautifully integrated, this lingers nicely on the mineral finish.

Drink this while searching the skies for jets, historic propeller planes, and parachutists:

2009 Skyleaf Riesling, Waipara Valley, New Zealand [$8.79]

Pale yellow/green color. Apple, melon, honey and lifted wine flowers on the nose. Crisp Waipara acidity softened with enough fruit sweetness to make the wine soft and inviting while still having structure.

Drink this while contemplating “what it all means” during a break in the action:

2008 Red Car Winery, Heaven and Earth Pinot Noir, La Boheme Vineyard, Sonoma Coast, California [$54.39]

The 2008 Heaven & Earth offers heady aromas of fresh evergreen branches, black currants and wild herbs. Deeply concentrated, it layers the palate with essences of dark cherries, oriental spice and cola nut. It remains expressive throughout with excellent delineation and inner mouth perfume. An ethereal marriage of sky and soil.

Chill your whites, sparkling wines, and rosés “on the fly” with:

Delux Cooper Cooler [$79.99]

Chill your wine in just minutes! Simply fill the reservoir with ice and water, push a button, and the Cooper Cooler will chill your bottle of wine 20 times faster than your refrigerator.

Sparkling wine (and Champagne in particular) is known to many as the “special occasion” beverage—light, effervescent, crisp on the palate, with an option to pop the cork in a dramatic, frenzied spectacle. Just be careful where you point those 90+ pounds of pressure beneath the cork!

In a more practical sense though, sparkling wines are a year-round pleasure and among the wine world’s ultimate thirst quenchers. If you’re here in Chicago this week, you know temperatures in the 90s with heat indexes approaching 100 degrees will call for a proven antidote: ice-cold flutes of sparkling wine.

Champagne, France, may be the most famous producer of bubbly on the planet, but here at Just Grapes, Champagne is one part of our global stock of sparkling wines, coming from five different countries, and within the United States, from California, Oregon, and New Mexico. All have unique flavor profiles and source grapes that give each bottle its own personality.

So stay “hydrated” and simultaneously expand your sparkling wine palate this week by picking up a few of these favorites, and more:

Australia:

750ml MV Bitch Bubbly Sparkling Grenache/Shiraz Blend, South Australia [$10.39]
Wall Street Journal Pick

Pale red/strawberry color. Vibrant sweet strawberries, sweet raspberries and berries with some toffee notes on the nose. Sweet strawberries, sweet candy, fresh berries, some sweet citrus, with long luscious creamy finish.

New Mexico:

NV Gruet Blanc De Noir Sparkling Wine, Albuquerque, New Mexico [$13.19]

The rich and toasty character of Gruet’s Blanc de Noirs is balanced and superb. Aged for two-year minimum, the palate is developed and shows rich complex flavors.

Spain:

Familia Oliveda Joven, Cava, Spain [$13.19]

An attractive, bright pale straw color. It has a well formed mousse and fine bubbles that form multiple chains. This Cava shows a wonderful aromatic intensity, rich in floral aromas and fruit tones that display a lovely youthful character. The palate is very clean, fruity and crisp with a creamy roundness. It has an extremely well balanced structure that has an enticing, lingering persistence.

Italy:

NV Bele Casel Prosecco di Valdobbiadene, Veneto, Italy [$14.39]

Lemon and gold color with peach, vanilla and melon fruit aromas. Flavors of ripe peaches, citrus (mandarin orange), toasty with minerals on the finish.

France:

NV Besserat de Bellefon Brut, Champagne, France [$41.59]
Brilliant straw color with copper highlights. Fine, persistent froth forming a noticeable ring. The nose is dominated by woodland flowers, apples, pears and above all, candied fruit. Rich and varied aromas, full of delicacy and subtlety.

There is no doubt that the 2004 film Sideways has been a boon to Pinot Noir, educating masses of casual wine drinkers about the delicate grape through its equally delicate protagonist, Miles.

What that audience might not know though, is that Pinot Noir is truly global—grown all over the world in microclimates perfect for the fussy grape.

So, if you want to know the difference between a Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara, for example, and one from France, Italy, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, Australia, and even Oregon, then you’ll definitely want to grab a seat for our next Global Grapes Series wine class, where we’ll dive deep into Pinot Noir, tasting and exploring the characteristics of each growing region—you’ll be a “Professor of Pinot” by the end of the night.

For only $25, you can join us for this special event on Thursday, August 19, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (click here for tickets.) In the meantime though, stop by Just Grapes to get a head start on your “class notes” by picking up a few these favorites:

Italy:

2008 Canaletto Pinot Noir, Lombardy, Italy [$8.39]
Grapes for the Canaletto Pinot Noir are grown in the Oltrepo Pavese hills in Lombardy, north-west Italy. The Lombardy region stretches from the mountains down to the shores of Lake Garda, with many different microclimates and soils in between. The essence of Lombardy comes from its plentiful supplies of water, with majestic rivers flowing down in to the region’s great lakes: Maggiore, Como and Garda.

France:

2006 Ambroise Pinot Noir, Cote de Nuits Villages, Burgundy, France [$24.79]
A really classic expression of Burgundy Pinot Noir. This wine has a perfect balance of still bright, aromatic fruit, and the earth, moss, and gnome foot of Burgundy. Perfect for roasted and grilled anything, great with prosciutto wrapped asparagus, and just ducky with duck breast. – Joshua’s Staff Pick

California:

2006 De Tierra Pinot Noir, “Silacci Vineyard,” Monterey, California [$29.59]

90 Pts – Steven Tanzer
From the coolest climate Pinot Noir in Monterey, the grapes of Silacci Vineyard grow in a windy climate, in decomposed granite and loam soils, conditions that stress vines. Bright red. Ripe raspberry and cherry scents offer striking freshness and clarity. Delicious, plump, and drinking wonderfully right now.

Lollapalooza returns to Chicago this Friday, and while wine might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to the annual three-day outdoor music festival in Grant Park, there are a few connections—most notably, last year’s headliner Tool, and frontman Maynard James Keenan’s well-publicized second career as a winemaker and full-time wine enthusiast.

While this year’s artists aren’t producing any Soundgarden Shiraz or Lady Gaga Grenache, that’s OK, because there are plenty of “rock stars” in the actual wine world to get excited about. It’s a year-round “Oeno-Palooza” here at Just Grapes, so stop by and put some of our “hitmakers” into heavy rotation on your palate:

Charles Smith:

2008 Velvet Devil Merlot, Columbia Valley Washington [$11.19]
If velvet had a flavor this would be it. Bittersweet chocolate, dark Italian cherries. Sweet rose petals with a firm, satiny finish. Pure Washington Merlot.

Paul Hobbs:

2007 Pulenta Estate Chardonnay, Agrelo, Mendoza, Argentina [$14.39]
This Chardonnay shows a brilliant greenish-yellow in the glass and offers aromas of citrus and tropical fruits protected by the controlled temperature fermentation, with light vanilla notes from the oak ageing. Once in the mouth, the wine is intense, fresh and complex with a balanced acidity and a long, delicate finish.

Chris Ringland:

2007 Chris Ringland “CR” Shiraz, Barossa Valley, South Australia [$17.59]

93 pts – Robert Parker

The 2007 CR Shiraz displays a deep red-black with a scarlet orange rim in the glass. The aroma explodes with sweet red berry perfume, white florals, liquorice and aniseed and laced with a sweet vanillin back note. The rich mouth filling attack of red berries and milk chocolate follows through with vanilla on the finish.