Tasting - Morado Sangria NV

Name: Morado Sangria NV
Variety: Red Blend
Region: N/A
Country: Spain
Year: N/A
Price: $4.95

Winery review: Morada Sangria is a traditional Spanish drink made with red wine and citrus extracts. Garnet color and fresh on the palate. Pasteurization preserves the color, aromas and flavors. 7% Alc. It is a very refreshing Sangria with around 85 grams of sugar. Sangria is now one of the hottest items in the beverage industry and it's growing exponentially year to year. Serve well chilled, on its own or with lemonade and slices of fruit like peach, banana or apple. - Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes

My review: Who wouldn't like this wine? Of course, it is disgustingly sweet but a few sips of this never hurt anyone. The sugar content is shocking to the palate. I 100% would prefer to have a red blend with true FRUIT in it and possibly brandy to sweeten it. This tastes artificially sweet. I'll never forget the time my mom told me about her drunken experience at the Tombs Restaurant in Georgetown where she drank a plethora of sangria and ate way too much pizza and ended the night with her head in the toilet. Yikes, Mom.

Tasting - Lost Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet NV

Name: Lost Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet NV
Variety: 60% Shiraz, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: N/A
Country: Argentina
Year: NV
Price: $4.95

Winery review: It is dry and contains subtle tobacco undertones with a black licorice, cherry, scent. The oak is in the background. Would pairwell hamburger or a steak rather than stand alone. - Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes

My review: I'm not sure if I'm still just an amateur or if I just don't have a wide palate but I did not like this wine either. I could smell the oak tones when I first swirled this wine. It seems that this wine has a high level of tannins because it has an explosive flavor. I could not sense the black licorice in this wine as much as the Villa Pozzi Nero D'Avola.

Tasting - Villa Pozzi Nero D'Avola

Name: Villa Pozzi Nero D'Avola
Variety: Calabrese
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95

Winery review: Very dark purple, with a reddish-violet edge, typical of this grape. Black plums, a hint of licorice and subtle spice, not overly complex but appealing. A big mouth full of juicy black fruit is well structured by tart acidity and soft but distinct tannins. - Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes

My review: I was not a fan of this wine at all. I think it's because the first thing the person beside me said was that they tasted licorice. I have always despised licorice so I picked this up immediately. I think that this wine would be different with food but I was not a fan of the robust, spicy, and licorice tastes that I sensed in the body of the wine by itself.

Tasting - Tres Ojos Rose

Name: Tres Ojos Rose
Variety: 50% Tempranillo, 50% Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $1.95

  Winery review: This medium rose-colored rosado boasts a spicy red cherry/plum nose with a soft lush attack of red berry fruit flavors and a crisp dry finish. Simple and refreshing and a natural for tapas. - Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes

My review: I was not a huge fan of this particular rose. I thought that for a rose, it was a little bit spicy when I expected it to be sweet. Upon the first sip, I immediately thought that it was more alcoholic that other wines I had tasted. I tasted the alcohol over the flavors. The dry finish is definitely something that I recognize in this wine. I think that it could be different with food.

Tasting - Les Perles Piquepoul

Name: Les Perles Piquepoul
Variety: Piquepoul
Region: Cotes de Thau
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95

 
Winery review: Light and young, this is a straightforward but enjoyable selection that would be an ideal match for light fare such as grilled chicken salads or fluke. Apple flesh, nectarine, and sweet citrus oil aromas and flavors appear on the nose and palate, while the short finish is infused with a flavor of green melon rind. - Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes

My review: This wine was citrus-y and light! I could definitely sense the melon within the body of this wine but absolutely not the fruit. I tasted pure rind. I enjoyed this wine and it was very different than anything I had ever had before. It was sweet in the way that I like my wines to be sweet - through fruits, not sugar.

Tasting - Gabriella Chianti

Name: Gabriella Chianti
Variety: Chianti
Region: Florence
Country: Italy
Year: 2008
Price: $7.95

Winery review: This beautiful wine has the very deep red, almost purple, color that you would expect in a Chianti. The first thing you notice is the fruit, balanced by a bit of spice. It's a good dry wine with a blood flavor. Even with it's boldness, this Chianti is velvety smooth. - Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes

My review:  I LOVED this wine. After discussing the San Giovese variety in class, I had to try this wine. As a child, I remember "Italian night" at our annual beach week trip that my family attended. There were always twine wrapped bottles of Chianti on the table and I remember the adults having a lot of fun that night.

Upon tasting it, I immediately noticed how robust the flavor in this wine is. The fruit is very pronounced and the velvet texture makes the drink-ability very smooth.

My boyfriend is in this class with me and we purchased a bottle of this wine to enjoy with our Valentine's Day dinner. We made pesto and mozzarella stuffed chicken with tomato basil pasta and marinara sauce. The wine paired nicely with the spicy marinara sauce and really complimented the red pepper nicely.

Tasting - Lavarini Valpolicella Classico

Name: Lavarini Valpolicella Classico
Variety: 65% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella and 10% Molinara
Region: Italy
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95

Winery review: The red ruby color and the dry taste give this wine joviality and cordiality. It is fresh and fruty, with lovely strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors, with nice spice and a silky texture. - Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes

My review:  This wine was very interesting. The first taste that I picked up was the spice - a smokey campfire marshmallow is what first came to mind. I then picked up the cherry flavor and noticed the overall smoothness of this wine. I would find it very interesting to see how this wine is with food.

Tasting - Dom de Mirail Cabernet/Merlot Rose

Name: Dom de Mirail Cabernet/Merlot Rose
Variety: Cabernet/Merlot Rose
Region: Cotes de Gascogne
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95

Winery review: There is a fresh, crisp character to this light rose. It is eye-watering in its refreshing character, with balancing acidity, smoothing out the edges with a touch of caramel. - Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes

My review:  I was somewhat stumped when I first tasted this wine because the girl next to me said that she tasted pancakes. Soon, we discovered that she was probably tasting the caramel - or to her, maple syrup. Once this was established, the caramel flavor towards the end of the sip was very pronounced. I had written down, and distinctly remember this wine tasting extremely acidic in my opinion. I did enjoy this wine, there was just nothing familiar about it. That's a good thing, I think.

Tasting - Norton Torrontes

Name: Norton Torrontes
Variety: 100% Torrontes
Region: Lujan de Cuyo
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95   

Winery review: Greenish yellow with hints of gold, this Torrontes has intense aromas of white peach, rose petal, and jasmine. Norton Torrontes 2011 is pleasant and well balanced on the palate. - Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes

My review: This wine had a very robust flavor and kind of kick to it. In reference to the notes provided by the VC, I do not taste the peach but do sense the jasmine in a very strong sense. For a white, this was very strong for my liking. However, I think that this wine could pair well with a chicken or fish dish and be completely different on the palate.

Tasting - Dibon Cava

Name: Dibon Cava NV
Variety: Xarel-lo, Parellada and Macabeo
Region: North East (near Barcelona)
Country: Spain
Year: Unknown
Price: $9.95

Winery review: "Dibon is new to us, and after tasting this complete, well-made Cava we are happy to makes it acquaintance. The nose offers regal yeast and richness, while the palate has complexity to prop up apple, citrus and grapefruit flavors. Solid from front to back, with health and freshness." (12/08) A "Good Value" designation from Wine & Spirits Magazine: "Dried apricot and marzipan flavors meet the nutty bitterness of this cava. A sweet, soft wine to serve with herbed goat cheese in pastry shells." (06/08) This traditional blend of Xarel-lo, Parellada and Macabeo is inexpensive but far from cheap. Full of toasty, nutty, qualities with notes of cinnamon and corn meal this is very complex aromatically. Add some notes of brioche and fresh sourdough on the palate and a streak of chalk to the abundant baked apple quality and this is something special for under $10. (Bryan Brick, K&L)


Review obtained from here.

My review: This "Spanish champagne" was extremely different than what I'm used to when I have champagne. That being said, the citrus-y and bubbly aspects of this wine were lovely. It has a rich flavor but is not too bold for my liking. I'm giving this bubbly a thumbs up.

Tasting - Opera Prima Pink Moscato

Name: Opera Prima Pink Moscato NV
Variety: Macabeo, Paralleda & Pansa Blanca
Region: La Mancha, Spain
Country: Spain
Year: Unknown
Price: $5.95

Winery review: This fine sparkling presents and intense aroma of fresh berries and tropical fruits with hints of white flavor petals. Delicate bubbles caress the palate offering a silky and pleasant sweetness well balanced by a crisp, refreshing finish. Ideal on it own, as an aperitif or with all types of sweets and desserts. Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes

My review: How can anyone not like how this tastes? Okay, I can understand that maybe someone wouldn't want to necessarily down a whole bottle of this before heading down town, but with a dessert, this would be excellent! The sweet flavor paired with the carbonation creates a smile on my face as I sip this wine. I would never drink more than one glass of this sweet wine, but I certainly enjoyed it. It tastes fruity and a little bit minty to me. It also smelled like rose water upon the first sip.

Tasting - Black Opal Shiraz

Name: Black Opal Shiraz
Variety: 100% Shiraz
Region: South Eastern Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2011
Price: $5.95

Winery review: The Black Opal wines are sourced from vineyards found in South Australia along the Limestone Coast, at Langhorne Creek and in the infamous Barossa Valley. Black Opal Shiraz is rich red in the glass. Aromas of blackberry, pepper and spice followed with rich plum flavors round out the palate. Soft tannins give structure to the fruit-driven palate. - Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes

My review: I suppose I had bad luck with the February 7th tastings at the Vintage Cellar. I definitely did not care for this wine. I immediately tasted the bold peppery taste within the first sip. The tannins in this wine were well balanced but rich. This wine was well-rounded with both fruity and spicy notes but it was too intense for my liking.

Tasting - Sokol Blosser Meditrina NV

Name: Sokol Blosser Meditrina NV
Variety: 28% Pinot Noir, 50% Syrah, and 22% Zinfandel
Region: Oregon
Country: USA
Year: Unknown
Price: $7.95

Winery review: "You can't be serious all the time. Sokol Blosser makes wines that help you kick back and enjoy life. These proprietary wines, Evolution and Meditrina, are spirited, whimsical, and a delicious way to relax and laugh with a group of friends. Meet Meditrina. Cousin of Cupid. Daughter of Apollo. The yin to Bacchus’s yang. Meditrina, the Roman Goddess of Wine. Meditrina is an approachable and easy-to-drink wine that pairs well with food. It’s a wine fit for a Goddess … and anyone else who loves great wine. Meditrina. A perfect marriage of Pinot Noir, Syrah and Zinfandel that’s juicy, rich and full of fruit. Open a bottle and say marvelous, magnificent or simply Mmmmm." - Winery

http://www.wespeakwine.com/products/Sokol-Blosser-Meditrina-NV-750ML.html

My review: The first thing that came to mind when tasting this wine was that it would be 100% different if paired with food. On it's own, I was a bit indifferent about it. It was definitely a great balance of tannins. It was smooth and "velvelty" and I was definitely impressed by the presence of berries in this wine.

Tasting - Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay/Semillon

Name: Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay Semillon
Variety: 80% Chardonnay, 20% Semillon
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2008
Price: $5.95

Winery review: Gotham's 2008 Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay Semillon is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Semillon. It gives a moderate intensity of melon, guava, apricot and butterscotch aromas. The medium bodied palate provides attractive acidity along with plenty of tropical fruit flavors and a medium-long finish. - Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes

My review:  I have to say that I was not a fan of this wine at all. I actually wrote a sad face and a big X next to it on my tasting sheet. I felt that this wine tasted too sharp for my taste. To me, it was dry and had a sharp kick at the end of the gulp. The moderate intensity noted by the Vintage Cellar seemed a bit too intense for me. The acid was very apparent and I did not enjoy this one. Personally, I think it's great to learn about wines that I do and do not care for.

Tasting - Beringer Riesling

Name: Beringer Riesling
Variety: 100% Riesling
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95

Winery review: I was unable to find a proper review online. The Vintage Cellar gave us the following information: This wine is the perfect balance of honeysuckle and bright peach flavors. A perfect compliment to light fare, appetizers, or just sharing with friends. - Vintage Cellar Tasting Notes

My review: Delicious! I absolutely loved this wine! I think that my taste for sweeter wines is becoming a little bit more prominent. This wine had the perfect amount of sweet. It was not overbearing and had a smooth, easy drink-ability.  I could definitely sense the honeysuckle and it's easy to understand why this would be paired with light appetizers. I purchased a bottle of this and am excited to drink it. I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Pomelo
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Lake County, California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $12/bottle






I purchased this wine over the summer at Total Wine in Arlington, VA. However, it was made at the Mason Cellars Winery in California.

Winemakers Notes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc.  Fermented in all stainless steel tanks; extremely long and cold ferment allows for the fragrant and big fruit flavors to be appreciated.  The crisp acidity is retained and then rounded out and complimented by a broadened mouth and ever-slight sweetness.

My Review: I enjoyed this wine with grilled shrimp for dinner. I did do some research to see what the best pairing would be with this wine and stumbled upon shrimp. I had the shrimp on a salad with a citrus-y dressing which only enhanced the flavor of the grapefruit and lemon in Pomelo.

While I am far too inexperienced to really delve into the description of how a wine tastes, I will say that the Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc was bursting with flavor. The label on the front of the bottle led me to believe that it would taste like lemons but but it truly was extremely citrus-y (despite being previously led to believe this would be the case). Given that it tasted like citrus, I loved this wine. It was sweet in a tart sense and I am not a huge fan of sweet wines. I will definitely drink this again! I think it would be great to have on a warm summer day at an outdoor BBQ.

Wine Pre-21

Pre-21? Yes. Absolutely.

Throughout my adolescence, my mom always loved having me sip on her wine when we would go out to dinner. She enjoyed hearing what I had to say about the taste of each wine and always seemed to know which ones I would and wouldn't particularly like. So, I was exposed pretty early on, and always enjoyed it.

In the summer of 2011, I traveled abroad to Cape Town, South Africa. As you may know, South Africa is known for it's wineland and specializes in their Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. My first wine tasting took place at a winery called Spier located in Stellenbosch, South Africa. My favorite wine, hands down, is Spier's 2011 Sauvignon Blanc. While I am not nearly educated enough in wine to tell you exactly what I taste in this bottle, I can tell you that the label says: "This elegant wine rewards with aromas and flavours of grass, fresh herbs and tropical fruit, and is well rounded on the palate. Serve with poultry, salads and shellfish."

That being said, I have hardly ever been a fan of sweet wines. I did go through the Moscato phase that every college girl seems to go through. But, after waking up with severe headaches and feelings of nausea just from all the sugar in Moscato, I quickly realized that it truly was a phase. Later, I found out that it is classified as a dessert wine and it all makes sense to me now.

Here's a photo of Spier winery.

And my favorite wine from the winery.

I also went to a wine tasting in a very small town called Pniel in South Africa. In the town of Pniel, at least two people out of every family works at the winery. Because wine is in such abundance in SA, we were able to taste 5 wines for less than 3 US dollars... and it was a beautiful day. Here are a few photos I took that day.

Upon my arrival back in the United States, I found myself very eager to turn 21 and to be able to taste wines at home. About a month before my 21st, I traveled to St. Croix for my cousins wedding and truly fell in love with a certain wine she had there. The wine was called "entwine" and it was a 2010 California Pinot Grigio. It was ordered in bulk for the entire week of the wedding and it really grew on me. It's an American wine and I've been able to find it all over the place back home but I do love it. I may just have an association attached to it since I was with my family and at a week long wedding celebration...but, it's incredibly crisp and refreshing. We ate a large amount of fish while we were down there and it paired perfectly for it. Food Network claims that it's perfect for evenings on the porch. The rehearsal dinner took place at a beautiful farm on the island where we ate all home grown or farm raised foods and enjoyed live music. It was a completely outdoor event and I was truly able to enjoy entwine the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

When I finally did have my righteous 21st birthday this past August, my mom decided to take me to a Total Wine store. We chose 12 different bottles to make up a case which would be my 21st birthday gift from my Mom. This gave me the chance to have 12 different tastes - which I have yet to get through. It prevented me from only sticking to one kind that I consistently like. Within this case was:

1 bottle of Spier Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (South Africa)
1 bottle of Schramsberg Blanc De Blancs Brut Vintage 2009 (California, USA)
1 bottle of Mirassou Pinot Noir 2011 (California)
1 bottle of The Crossings Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (Malborough, New Zealand)
2 bottles of Entwine Pinot Grigio 2010 (California)
1 bottle of Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (California)
1 bottle of Oak Grove Zinfandel 2010 Reserve (California)
1 bottle of La Delizia Pinot Noir 2011 (Italy)
1 bottle of Esperal Vinho Verde (Portugal)

...and a few others that I no longer have the bottles for.
My favorites from the bunch besides the two I've previously mentioned have been the Pomelo and the Mirassou.

If we're talking reds, I love a great Pinot Noir. I come from an Italian family who drinks a lot of red wine. But, at this point in my life, if I'm having a "wine night" with the girls, I will typically drink a white. If I'm making myself dinner and plan to drink with it, I will drink a wine - because I eat a lot of fish, shrimp, and chicken. If I'm having a big bowl of pasta, then yes, I will drink red. But, socially, I find that red just makes me more tired. I'm assuming I'll learn all about the reasons for this in this class. But for my all time favorite, I'd probably go with either a Vinho Verde or Sauvignon Blanc. My experience is extremely minimal though, so I'm very excited to widen both my palette and knowledge.

I am very excited to be in this class. I find the information completely fascinating and I'm eager to learn and become a wine-snob. My step-mother thinks she knows all there is to know and I have to say, I can't wait to out-smart her.

Cheers!