Carefree Wine Tasting: Riesling

We are not wine experts.  My wife, Megan, and I enjoy drinking wine with good food.  There's no snobbery here.  It's a blind taste test to see what we really like.  We save our notes for future meals.  And it's all about having fun.  

How it works is simple.  We mark each wine glass and mix them to keep their identity secret.  Then we sip each to look for the smell, taste, texture, acidity, and tannins.  We then do it again with food suggestions we've found from various sources.  Finally, we rank our favorites with and without food ending with an overall winner.  

Frisk Prickly Riesling 2022 (https://www.friskwines.com/)

Nose/Smell: sweet and apple-like

Taste: light peach sweetness with a pop-like tartness

Texure/Mouthfeel: sharp, bubbly

Acid/Cheek: not acidic for Megan, but slightly so for Mike

Tannin/Gumdryness: slight-to-medium dryness

Color: cloudy yellow

Food: 

Spicy Shrimp: mellows the wine

Havarti Cheese: wine more sweet and bubbly flavored

Wheat Crackers: no change and stopped eating crackers as they all had same result

Spicy Nuts: wine has burst of flavor with smooth aftertaste

Prosciutto: wine too sweet

Apple Tart: wine has a burst of tartness that quickly disappears

Lamoreaux Landing Riesling: Semi-dry 2021 (https://www.lamoreauxwine.com/)

Nose/Smell: very ripe pear with woodsiness 

Taste: lightly tart fruit, ripe pear, and earthy minerality 

Texure/Mouthfeel: lightly smooth

Acid/Cheek: lightly tart

Tannin/Gumdryness: lightly dry

Color: light yellow/green

Food: 

Spicy Shrimp: overpowered and could only taste the spice

Havarti Cheese: good and balanced

Spicy Nuts: made wine smooth and creamy

Prosciutto: no good 

Apple Tart: terrible with a sour meat taste

Bota Box Riesling (https://www.botabox.com/)

Nose/Smell: light stone fruit with floral scent

Taste: soft stone fruit/pear.  not too sweet

Texure/Mouthfeel: very smooth and silky

Acid/Cheek: not acidic

Tannin/Gumdryness: little-to-no dryness

Color: very pale yellow, almost white

Notes: highest alcohol content

Food: 

Spicy Shrimp: Brought out shrimp flavor.  Mike thought it made the wine more flavorful

Havarti Cheese: made the wine sweeter and more tart

Spicy Nuts: wine was very smooth and flavorful

Prosciutto: wine was very sweet

Apple Tart: Megan thought it made wine taste salty and bad.  Mike thought it was "fine..."

Dr. Loosen "Dr. L" Riesling 2022 (https://loosenbrosusa.com/)

Nose/Smell: very light fruit, but almost no scent

Taste: minerally/earthy grapefruit.  Almost like Sweet-Tart candy

Texure/Mouthfeel: slightly rough bite with a smooth aftertaste

Acid/Cheek: slightly acidic tartness with light sourness

Tannin/Gumdryness: pretty dry in comparison

Color: very light yellow

Notes: lowest alcohol content.  Possibly harmed by American preservative requirements

Food: 

Spicy Shrimp: shrimp was more pungent, but wine had a better leveled out taste and sweetness

Havarti Cheese: wine more prickly and sweet

Spicy Nuts: Made wine too sweet and tart

Prosciutto: Best of the group, but still not great...

Apple Tart: Made wine salty and gross

BEST RIESLING ON ITS OWN:

#1 Bota Box Riesling

#2 Lamoreaux Landing Riesling: Semi-dry 2021

#3 (TIE) Dr. Loosen "Dr. L" Riesling 2022/Frisk Prickly Riesling 2022

BEST RIESLING WITH FOOD:

#1 Bota Box Riesling

#2 (TIE) Lamoreaux Landing Riesling: Semi-dry 2021/Frisk Prickly Riesling 2022

#3  Dr. Loosen "Dr. L" Riesling 2022

*note: next time, try pork instead of prosciutto.  Use crackers to clean palette.  And avoid apple tarts and similar desserts

BEST OVERALL RIESLING:

#1 Bota Box Riesling (note: with perfect score)

#2 Lamoreaux Landing Riesling: Semi-dry 2021

#3 Frisk Prickly Riesling 2022

#4  Dr. Loosen "Dr. L" Riesling 2022

The "distance" between 1st and 4th place was very small and we'd happily drink all of these wines again.  I hope this helps you find something you like.  Maybe you'll have a different experience.  Or you'll share one for us to try next time.  THANKS!

Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children's Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold thousands of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: http://MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/BrightscapesArt/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

🎨 What Style Painting Should I Choose? 🎨

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

What style painting should I choose?  Do you like clean lines and a modern look?  Something messy, abstracted, and bold might add interest into your home.  Are you more traditional and love Victorian design?  Perhaps a gallery wall of paintings with unique frames would look great.  If you choose a bright, bold piece, other items in the space should be minimal.  If your space is already very busy, a simple piece may make the best statement.  And feel free to mix family heirlooms with contemporary pieces.  Maybe put a new painting in an old frame.  Use depth/texture, trends/traditions, and complimentary/contrasting items to create visual interest.

Want to meet new friends and have fun?

COME TO THE allFREEDOM SUMMER PARTY AT:

https://www.facebook.com/events/7494125563997105

Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children's Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold thousands of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: http://MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/BrightscapesArt/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

🌊😎🌞 Seneca Lake State Park 🌞😎🌊

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Seneca Lake State Park

acrylic paint on canvas board

16" x 20" (40.6 cm x 50.8 cm) 

202404005

© copyright Mike Kraus Art Inc.

To purchase for your home, please visit: https://mikekrausart.etsy.com/listing/209750260

A cool breeze comes off the calm, deep waters of Seneca Lake as we hike the shoreline. We've found our spot to enjoy our picnic lunch from roadside stands paid on the honor system and bottle of local Gewurztraminer wine.  Just relaxing and appreciating the panoramic view.  There's a sweet scent coming from the vineyard as we smirk at our dog running aimlessly through the field.  And we're fortunate to know that feeling like this comes from being outdoors.

Spring is happening right now.  Don't forget to capture that feeling.

This painting would look best in a space that is red, orange, yellow, dark green, dark blue, purple, black, white, beige, or wood 

Want to meet new friends and have fun? 

COME TO THE allFREEDOM SUMMER PARTY AT:

https://www.facebook.com/events/7494125563997105

Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children's Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold thousands of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: http://MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/BrightscapesArt/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

🎨 What Color Piece Should I Choose? 🎨

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

What color piece should I choose?  The answer depends on your space and what you want to accomplish.  Do you want the piece to blend in to the environment or do you want it to be the focus and "pop?"  Are the colors in your room bold or light and pastel?  Here are some ideas:

Find inspiration: For my patrons, I suggest looking at interior design websites, magazines, Pinterest, etc. to find places similar to theirs or how they want their spaces to look.  Mix and match ideas to make it yours.

What do you like already?  You probably enjoy that object (couch, desk, rug) because of its color.  So, match, complement, or contrast your new piece with something else you love.

Use color theory: Discover or create a palette to use.  This tends to be 5 colors that work together in contrast and balance.  And it's easy because paint stores and online designers have countless options pre-made for you to select.

Size: Do you want a small area to feel bigger?  Then try a bright color.  Is a space oppressively large?  Go for darker tones.  Trying to "even out" a narrow room?  Use darker hues on short walls and lighter hues on the long walls.

How do you want to feel?  Color impacts our emotions.  How is the room used?  If you have a quiet, private space you'll want dark greens, blues, and other calming neutrals.  But, in active entertaining spaces a better choice is reds, yellows, and other warm variations.  

It can feel overwhelming because the options are literally limitless.  So, it can help to create limits based on the current space, possessions, feelings, preferences, and design principles.  

Want to meet new friends and have fun?

COME TO THE allFREEDOM SUMMER PARTY AT:

https://www.facebook.com/events/7494125563997105

Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children's Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold thousands of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: http://MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/BrightscapesArt/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

🎨 An Artist's Customer Service Is Quality 🎨

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Artwork can have a very long life.  The pig paintings in Leang Tedongnge cave in Indonesian are about 45,500 years old.  With creations that have longevity, customer service becomes an important feature.  Once it leaves your studio, you should consider the lifetime of your piece.  How is it sold, presented and displayed, delivered to customer, cleaned and maintained, provenance tracking if sold or inherited, and insurance value if destroyed.  Your customers will want your help.  

Creating high quality art is good customer service because it lowers the need to correct issues.  You may pay more in labor, materials, and shipping, but you will save time and money from complaints, returns, repairs, lost customers, and bad reviews.  A happy customer is return customer.  And a return customer is the best customer because they will tell their friends and family that they should work with you too.

Here is an Artist's Customer Service Program:

1) Customer Service Infrastructure - Look at all the ways you buyers contact you: phone, email, social media, etc.  How much time and effort is needed to fix a problem?

2) Price - For replacements, repairs, and other issues, have a policy that is fair and easy to understand.

3) Streamline your process for reliability and speed

4) Staff - Train everyone on designs and how to fix problems

5) Educate customers about designs

6) Fix problem quickly; then be kind.  A frustrated customer want results; not gracious words.  At least until the issue is resolved and then kindness is greatly appreciated.

7) Continuous Evaluation - Set goals, track important stats, analyze data regularly, verify the process and outcomes, and improve the process. 

Want to meet new friends and have fun?

COME TO THE allFREEDOM SUMMER PARTY AT:

https://www.facebook.com/events/7494125563997105

Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children's Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold thousands of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: http://MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/BrightscapesArt/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

🎨 Questions To Consider About the Size of Artwork 🎨

 

What about size? Look at the space you wish to hang a piece of original art. Is it large or small? What’s around it; lamps, doors, windows, or other pieces on the wall? Will it be the focus of the room or something to fill a small void? Will anything obstruct its view? The scale of the piece is important. Too big and it can be oppressive in absorbing all the visual space. Too small and it can get lost among the furniture and other decor. Generally, most residential spaces can accommodate pieces in a range of 12 inches (30 centimeters) to 4 feet (122 centimeters). A good trick is to purchase blue painter’s tape and make an outline of the size that feels good to you.

Want to meet new friends and have fun?

COME TO THE allFREEDOM SUMMER PARTY AT:

https://www.facebook.com/events/7494125563997105

Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children’s Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold thousands of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: http://MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/BrightscapesArt/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

🎨 Trust Your Gut To Decorate Your Home 🎨

Trust your gut. Buy what you love. There’s always room on your walls for something you love. You are the one that will have to look at it every day. The pieces you choose add life and dimension to your home. They tell your friends, family, and guests who you are. The artwork in your home should feel special to you. If it doesn’t, it’s better to have an empty void until you find something that makes your heart burst.

What do you love? Is there someone special in your life? What do you do in your spare time? When have you been the happiest? What location is the most special spot in the world to you? All things you should consider before making a purchase.

Want to meet new friends and have fun?

COME TO THE allFREEDOM SUMMER PARTY AT:

https://www.facebook.com/events/7494125563997105

Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children’s Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold thousands of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: http://MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/BrightscapesArt/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus