Sunday, April 28, 2013

Tasting - Steeple Jack





Name: Steeple Jack
Variety: Moscato
Region: Southern Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2011
Price: $8.00
Shop Review: "A sweet, full-flavored Moscato with a fresh, spritzy finish - just for fun!"

My Review: As I have developed my palate over the course of the semester one thing has been consistent, I do not like Moscato and this wine was the worst I've had. With hints of peaches, pears, and slight grass this aroma is quite delicate and nice. The taste, however, is overly sweet and not blended very well. It may be nice with dessert but I will not be trying it any time soon.

Tasting - Berringer






Name: Berringer
Variety: Merlot
Region: California, Napa Valley
Country: United States
Year: 2010
Price: $10.99
Shop Review: The Beringer Founders' Estate Merlot is approachable and delicious. Hints of plum and brown spice on the nose compliment the boysenberry, blackberry and blueberry finish on the palate. It's well-balanced, soft tannins make this wine a perfect accompaniment to a variety of foods, such as grilled meats or hearty vegetable dishes.

My Review: A very bold red wine that has strong hints of black currant, berry, and a slight spiciness. Overall this is a very good value wine. The taste is quite explosive it is a great wine for steak or heavy meat dishes.

Tasting - Honoro Vera






Name: Honoro Vera

Variety: Granache
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $9.99
Shop Review: "Deep red.  Oak-spiced dark berry and cherry aromas display very good intensity.  Juicy and sweet, with lush blackberry and cherry-cola flavors and a seamless texture.  Shows a touch of bitterness on the finish, which lingers with good spicy grip.  This is an excellent value."

My Review: Fortunately, the label is not a reflection of the quality of wine, if it were this would not be a very good choice to drink. With very deep aromas of dark fruit this wine is is bold in its flavoring. The taste covers your palate and it is very full bodied.

Tasting - Maipe







Name: Maipe
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $11.99
Shop Review: "This Malbec has a deep purple color with violet tints, complex plum, fig, strawberry, spices and floral aromas; rounded and velvety tannins, excellent length with a distinguished character. Excellent when paired with game, roasted red meats, pasta or pizza."

My Review: The nose on this wine is quite complex and was slightly confusing. While it was very heavy in fruitiness it also had a lot of spice. The taste of the wine is heavy in tannins and very full bodied. Overall, I enjoyed this wine and would recommend it with a nice steak.

Tasting - Insomnia








Name: Insomnia
Variety: Red Wine Blend
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2010
Price: $13.99

Shop Review: Deep. Dark. Edgy. Everything a red wine should be. Intriguing notes of black current, dark cherry and oak collide on the palate. Pair this bold blend with rich red meats or savory sauces.

My Review: The nose on this wine is very strong with dark chocolate, cherries and a very pungent aroma of oak. Upon tasting the wine the "oak monster" was very prevalent along with flavors of dark fruit. Overall, it was a well blended wine and I enjoyed it.

Wine Region - Washington State

Washington is the second largest wine producing state in the USA, behind California. Washington currently has 37,000 acres of grapes and 542 wineries in 2010. Washington is unique in its wine climate because it is divided into east and west by the Cascade Mountains. Because of two active volcanoes in the Cascades it has created soil in the eastern part of the state that is perfect for growing superior grapes. In the east the state has dry, hot, and very arid summers which are ideal conditions for growth. The Western side of the state is completely different, it averages sixty inches of rainfall along the coast as opposed to eight inches across the state. Because of this difference in climate across the state and the excellent growing conditions in the eastern part of the state that is where most of the wineries are located. As wine growing has increased in the United States clearly so has the production of wine, and given eastern Washington's near perfect climate the number of wineries in the state has grown by 532 wineries in 40 years. The state has 13 AVA established wineries they are: Yakima Valley est. 1983, Walla Walla Valley est. 1984, Columbia Valley est. 1984 is responsible for 95% of wine production, Puget Sound 1995, Red Mountain 2001, Columbia Gorge 2004, Horse Heaven Hills 2005, Wahluke Slope 2006, Rattlesnake Hills 2006, Snipes Mountain 2009, Lake Chelam 2009, Naches Heights 2011, and Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley 2012. As you can tell many of these regions have been established in the past 10 years, this speaks to the quality of the wine being produced in this area as it is growing rapidly. The wine production in the state is 54% white and 46% red wine. The major grapes grown in the state are: Chardonnay 5,992 acres, Riesling 4,404 acres, Sauvignon Blanc 993 acres, Gewurztraminer 632 acres, Cabernet Sauvignon 5,959 acres, Merlot 5,853 acres, and Syrah 2,831 acres. Washington is the number one producer of Riesling in the United States, and it is known as one of the best Chardonnay producers in the USA. The state currently produces approximately 12 million cases of wine a year, and the wine industry employees 19,000 people across the state. As wine making continues to advance in the US Washington will continue to compete with California as the nations best producer of wine. Due to unique land formations and a well rounded climate Washington State wine is on the rise in the world and will continue to garner national recognition as the state gets more world exposure.









Wine Dinner #3 4/26/13

This wine dinner consisted of food purchased from West End Market. We enjoyed a meal of Steak, Trout with an almond glaze, Grilled Shrimp with Cajun spices, and grilled asparagus with balsamic sauce. The wines consumed during this meal were:

Edna Valley Vineyard - Chardonnay, 2010. This white wine from California has a very grassy nose and is quite dry and crisp. In pairing it with the food it went quite well with the Trout and Shrimp. The flavor of the fish accented the crisp pear flavors of the wine. I would not drink this wine alone however I would have it with seafood again.

Fetzer Eagle Peak - Merlot, 2010. Another wine from California, this bold Merlot comes from an winery that prides itself on sustainability. It is even trade marked as "The Earth Friendly Winery." This was my least favorite of the three wines we paired. While it did have strong tones of dark fruit, it was quite tannic and very bitter. Because this wine did not match well with my palate I did not enjoy pairing it with any of the foods.

The Naked Grape - Pinot Noir. Sticking with the California theme this wine was my favorite of the three. With a lot of dark fruit aromas and flavors it is a fantastic wine. It was blended very well is has a very explosive taste in the mouth. This wine paired quite well with the steak, the bold flavor accented the meaty flavors of the steak perfectly.








Monday, April 15, 2013

Wine Dinner 2 - Roanoke Street Apartments

After the first wine dinner the gentlemen who cooked and paid for the meal, myself included, were due for our free family dinner. With the ladies cooking we let them decided on the menu and the wine to go with it. This dinner took place on April 4th, 2013. The menu consisted of; Steak, salmon with a honey glaze, asparagus, baked potatoes, pasta salad, broccoli, vegetable medley, and a delicious cake for desert.



The wines consumed during this meal were: Fish Eye Riesling, Wood Bridge Pinot Grigio, and Cellar No 8 Red Blend.




-Fish Eye Riesling: As the semester progresses, and our bank accounts dwindle, we find ourselves in the lower price ranges of wine, which is not always the worst thing. This wine can be described as fresh picked apricots with floral aromas, however, I was only able to detect a slight grassy taste with a nose of apple and pear. This wine did not match well with anyone of the food but overall was not as bad as I thought it was going to be.

-Wood Bridge Pinot Grigio: Once again we find ourselves with a wine created by Robert Mondavi. This wine had heavy traces of citrus fruit in the nose as well as the taste. It paired very well with the salmon and the vegetables. Compared to the Pinot Grigio paired in the last dinner this one, to me, was substantially better.

-Cellar No 8 Red Blend: This is a blended red wine consisting oPetite Sirah, Grenache, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. This wine has a lot of berry flavors and a quite jammy texture. I had not had a blend of this nature before and I very much enjoyed it. The wine blended very well with the steak, vegetables, pasta salad, and surprisingly brought out the flavor quite well in the salmon.

 

Once again, this was a great experience and it felt great not having to cook this time. As we learn more about which kind of wines pair well with food I am more excited to try better wines and different foods.







Monday, March 25, 2013

Dinner - Roanoke Street Apartments (Wine Party)

This dinner took place on March 24, 2013. It started out as a meal between friends and turned into a cooking extravaganza and turned into a wine and cooking marathon party. The first thing we decided upon was the menu. The meal consisted of; steak and rice, linguine with shrimp sauce, roasted vegetables, bacon wrapped asparagus, and homemade garlic bread.

 

The wine was selected second in order to match the food, the following wines were consumed:

-La Vieille Ferme Ventoux Rouge: This wine is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, and Cinsault grapes. This wine comes from the Rhone Valley. This wine has a very peppery, dark fruity nose. It it quite full bodied and is very tannic with a long, dry finish. This wine was purchased to match with the steak, rice, roasted vegetables, and garlic bread. While tasting this and eating the aforementioned food it brought out the flavor the best in the steak and rice it was quite a nice compliment to the spice used in cooking and blended well with the slight bitterness of the wine.

- Rex Goliath, Pinot Grigio: As we have just learned from the Drink This Now book, it is quite difficult to make Pinot Grigio and to find a good bottle can be quite pricey. With that being said, we are in college and are on a budget so we had to settle for a lesser quality Pinot Grigio. This wine is quite abundant with citrus flavors and is also quite dry on the finish. This was chosen to pair with the shrimp pasta as well as the roasted vegetables. It did pair well with the shrimp pasta however as the quality of the wine was not so great it diminished the pairing.

- Woodbridge, Merlot: The third and final wine purchased was one by Robert Mondavi. This wine has a cherry, blackberry, spicy nose and it well complemented by a tastes of plum, slight oak, and a dark chocolate flavor. This wine was the best in my opinion because it paired well with almost all of the foods. It was an especially good compliment to the roasted vegetables and the steak with rice.

 

 


Overall, this was a great experience in terms of cooking as well as learning to pair wines with certain foods. I would highly recommend anyone attempt this venture as it was a lot of fun and was highly educational.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Wine Region - Loire Valley


Loire Valley – France



             The Loire Valley is located along the middle stretch of the Loire River in Central France. The area consists of 310 square miles and is known as the Garden of France because of the abundance of vegetation along the banks of the river. The valley is known for historic towns, architecture, wine, and culture; it has been inhabited since the Middle Palaeolithic Era. The Loire Valley is divided into several sub-regions; Anjou-Saumur, Muscadet, Sancerre, Pouilly Fume, and Touraine. The climate in the region is moderate most of the year, slight frosts may occur during the spring and during wine harvesting months heavy rain can be prevalent. The valley is known as the Northern limit of Viticulture. The Loire Valley has been known for viticulture since the Roman era however since then many of the styles of wine and grapes grown in the region have changed.

               The Sancerre and Pouilly Fume sub regions are known primarily for Sauvignon blanc and Pinot noir grapes. However, wines labeled with Pouilly are made with Chasselas grapes, known for dry fruity white wines. The Sancerre is different than most regions in France because the picking of grapes is highly mechanized. Sancerre is known to produce red, white and rose wines; whereas, Pouilly Fume is known only to produce white wine. The white sauvignon blanc based wines from this region are known gooseberry, grapefruit, and very full bodied flavors. The red pinot noir wines from these two sub regions are known to be both light in body and color.
              The Anjou-Saumer sub region is located in the middle of the Loire Valley along the town of Angers. The Anjou sub region is primarily known for using Cabernet franc grapes in order to make rose based wines. White wine from this region is made using Chenin blanc and is known as Anjou blanc while Anjou rouge is made from Gamay grapes.  Higher quality wines coming from this area are labeled with the AOC designation Anjou-Villages. The Saumer area is the third largest producer of sparkling wine in France. Saumer sparkling wine is different than any other sparkling wine because it is made using the Chenin blanc grape. Some of the areas surrounding Saumer produce red wines based on the Cabernet franc grape.
            The Touraine sub region is known to have some of the most diverse plantings in the Loire Valley. For white wines the primary grape used is Chenin blanc, but Sauvignon blanc and Chardonnay are also planted. Cabernet franc is the main grape planted for red wines, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, and Malbec sometimes used. Rose wines are made using a combination of Gamay, Pineau d’aunis, Pinot gris, and Pinot noir. The soil around Touraine is a mixture of limestone with excellent drainage.
           The last and westernmost most edge of the Loire Valley is the Muscadet sub region. This sub region is unique because it uses Melon de Bourgogne grape to produced brandy distilled wine. Four types of white wine produces in the sub region are; Sevre et Maine, Cotes de Grand Lieu, Coteaux de la Loire, and Loire-Atlantique. These wines are often bottled sur lie, or straight from the tank that they were fermented in without and extra racking or filtering.






Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Tasting - Flipflop

Name: Flipflop Left Coast
Variety: Reisling
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $7.19
Shop Review: The 2010 FlipFlop Riesling has aromas of honey dew melon, apple, and apricot. When tasting these same flavors come through as well as some cantaloupe, pear, and a touch of pineapple. This is a very sweet wine which would make it a great match for spicy food or you could almost drink it as a dessert wine. The FlipFlop Riesling is medium-bodied with a full mouthfeel. It could use a little higher acidity to cut through the sweetness, but if you like sweet wines you'll likely enjoy this one quite a bit. Otherwise, pair it with spicy food and it'll be great. A surprisingly good Riesling for the price.

My Review: The nose was quite sweet with hints of many different light fruits. Maybe I do not like Reisling or maybe this particular type of Reisling was a bad representation but, this was the worst wine I have ever ingested and would not recommend to anyone.

Tasting- Querceto

Name: Querceto
Variety: Chianti
Region: Sangiovese
Country: Italy
Year: 2011
Price: $8.59
Shop Review: "This wine is youhtful and fruity in character and can be enjoyed with simple meals on simple occasions."

My Review: The tannins were quite prevalent in the taste making it a very spicy/bitter wine. A hint of cherry on the nose and some oak monster.

Tasting - Black Swan


Name: Black Swan
Variety: Shiraz
Region: Alelaide
Country: Australia
Year: 2011
Price: $7.59
Shop Review: "Flavors of black cherries, peppery spice and mocha enveloped in decadent dark fruit. A bold and unexpected match for grilled meats, pasta dishes and ripe cheeses."

My Review: This was the best of the five wines tasted in my opinion. I have never tried a Shiraz and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The nose was quite peppery and was bursting with scents. It had a distinct taste of dark fruit mixed with mocha.

Tasting - Avant


Name: Kendall-Jackson Avant
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2009
Price: $10.99
Shop Review: "Vivid, crisp and bright - the brand new Avant Chardonnay continues the nearly three decades of pioneering distinguished varietal wines from California's cool coastal appellations. Avant is very different from KJ's traditional rich, creamy styles of Chardonnay. Avant bursts with intriguing layers of fresh pineapple, bright green apple, crisp Meyer lemon, juicy pear and wildflowers. The wine's refreshing acidity and sleek mineral notes are balanced by a rounded mid-palate and slight oakiness with a long, pure fruit finish."

My Review: A very crisp refreshing taste of citrus fruit and green apple. The nose was quite grassy. Would recommend this wine be consumed in a warm time of the year.

Tasting - Tilia

Name: Tilia
Variety: Malbec Syrah
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $9.69
Shop Review: "Popped and poured with Rabbit aerator. Soft nose of black fruit, vanilla, and wild flowers. Light fruit-forward flavor, not big concentration, with sinewy dark chocolate tannins on a medium body and finish. Excellent QPR under $13. Screw top: substance over form. “Sustainably Farmed,” it says on the label, but who knows? It’s good wine, although I wasn't as impressed with the second bottle as it struck me as a little jammy. This was remedied by chilling."

My Review: While I did not use a decanter I thought this wine opened up quite nicely. It had an aromatic nose of raspberry and cherry. The tannins were quite prevalent in the taste and it had a nice fruity finish.





Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Tasting - Sunset Sipper

Name: Sunset Sipper Beliveau Estate
Variety: Zinfandel
Region: Virginia
Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $26.00
Shop Review: "A full bodied Red Zinfandel with a mellow edge."

My Review: A very smooth wine. Quite sweet and spicy at the same time. The finish is quite zesty and long. Would not drink again, tasted just average.

Tasting - Rainbow

Name: Beliveau Estate - Rainbow
Variety: 100% Zinfandel 
Region: San Joaquin, CA 
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $26

Shop Review: "Rainbow is our "peppery" old-vine Zin. Along with the traditional aspects of Zinfandel, you will find that Rainbow is not too bold and will not overpower your food pairings. It pairs best with beef, lasagna, Italian sausage, stroganoff, red sauces, and burgers! One thing to keep in mind is that Rainbow will strongly enhance "saltiness" and "pepperiness", so it is especially great for folks who are cutting back on their sodium intake!"

My Review: This is a high alcohol content wine at 16%. It has a very dry and long finish. The taste is quite robust and peppery. 10/10 Would drink again.

Tasting - Silhoutte


Name: Beliveau Estate Silhoutte
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region:  Virginia 
Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $20.00

Shop Review: "Our Cabernet Sauvignon is a cornucopia of light berry flavors topped with a spicy overtone. Medium body with nose to spare and a long finish. This "East Coast style" Cab pairs with steak, veal, and lamb, as well as chicken cordon bleu, pork with cranberry chutney, or your favorite ham & cheese. Strong enough to hold it's own, but delicate enough to not overpower your meal. Silhouette is also wonderful all by itself! "

My Review: A lighter red wine, very dry. The taste had strong flavorings of strawberries and raspberries. 20% Zinfandel. My favorite of the Beliveau Estate wines. 









Tasting - Destiny

Name: Beliveau Estate Destiny
Variety: Vidal Blanc
Region:  Virginia 
Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $16.00

Shop Review:  This dry, crisp Vidal Blanc is an excellent sipping wine, best served chilled. A two-time Bronze Medal winner, Destiny is perfect on a warm day to quench your thirst and refresh your palate! Also pairs well with poultry, balsamic vinegar, roasted red pepper, goat cheeses, and fruit. Destiny is a very popular picnic white at our Estate on warm Summer afternoons.

My Review: This wine has a very crisp nose with a hint of grass. The taste was full of fruit including; Grape Fruit, and a lot of other citrus fruits.




Tasting - Afternoon Delight


Name:Afternoon Delight - Beliveau Estate
Variety: Vidal Blanc
Region: Virginia
Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $20.00
Shop Review: "A lightly oaked, dry Vidal Blanc with overtones of grapefruit and vanilla. Serving un-chilled presents a well rounded, full palate and a lingering finish. Afternoon Delight is well suited for pairing with seasoned pork, roasted poultry, heavy seafood such as salmon or mussels, peppermint, venison, lamb, and saged sausage. This wine really pulls out any Summer herbs, especially rosemary! Chilled it is a bright yet complex and crisp, refreshing white. Afternoon Delight is great with strong cheeses chilled or unchilled."

My Review: This wine had a hint of oak in the nose and was quite dry. It had a strong butter taste and also a full melon flavor.










Friday, January 25, 2013

First Wine Experience

Growing up in an Italian family every occasion, event, or meal wine flowed like water. As a kid I found myself always wondering what the thick red stuff was my parents were always drinking, and why I could never have any. Until the one fateful day that my mom let me have a sip of her wine. I was so excited to finally be one of the adults until I brought the cup to my mouth and ingested the red liquid, that I assumed was going to be delicious. Not only did I hate what I had tasted but I never wanted to drink it again.

Alas, as I got older I was tempted not only by wine but other forms of alcohol as well. I continued to drink wine with my parents whenever I could but never particularly enjoyed drinking it. Until I arrived in college I was unaware of the hangover that wine can cause. One night I consumed a copious amount of wine and woke up with a wicked hangover. I once again vowed to never drink wine again.

I am taking this class in order to educate and culture myself in the ways of drinking wine. I believe that with my future in business I will need to be knowledgeable about wine. I am extremely excited to discover types of wine that I will actually enjoy and not just chug down as fast as possible.