Cariñena A Spanish Region To Watch

Planted at high altitude, the vineyards  of Cariñena descend into dramatic windswept plains with extreme day-to-night temperature swings, ideal conditions for rich, expressive wines.

On A Spanish Train

Somehow I missed it. As my train rumbled along the tracks from Logroño to Barcelona, I rode right past Cariñena. Cariñena is located in the heart of the Ebro Valley in Spain’s northeast region of Aragón. It’s history dates to 50 BC, but it is the future that has winemakers in the region excited.

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Tucked between two of Spain’s highest profile wine regions (Rioja and Priorat), it might be easy to overlook Cariñena. To do so would mean missing a growing assortment of well-crafted and interesting wines. Wine lovers might also be confused by the region’s name. Cariñena gave its moniker to the grape of the same name (known elsewhere as Carignan). Today, though, there is hardly any Carignan planted. You’ll find instead whites from Viura and reds from Tempranillo and Garnacha.

A Royal History

Cariñena has been attracting attention for centuries. In 1415, King Ferdinand I of Aragon declared his preference for Cariñena wine above all others. In 1585, King Phillip II of Spain was welcomed to the town with “free flowing fountains of wine.” I’m sorry I wasn’t there!

In the 1860s, 90% of European vineyards were wiped out by phylloxera, an insect that destroyed the roots of grapevines. Cariñena was largely spared and became a destination for winemakers vacating decimated areas. In 1909 King Alfonso XIII of Spain granted Cariñena a city charter for their winegrowers’ role in helping European vineyards recover from the phylloxera blight.

Our journey of discovery began with three bottles of Cariñena wine from the 2017 vintage. We tasted the Paniza Viura Chardonnay, Particular Garnacha Rosé and the Corona de Aragon Garnacha Blanca.

Tale Of The Grapes

The Cariñena wines weren’t what we expected. I say that in a good way. First, I expected red wines. The region has been promoting Garnacha (known in other parts as Grenache) as its signature grape. Two of the bottles were Garnacha, but one was a rosé and the other a white Garnacha. Interesting indeed!

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We opened the Particular Garnacha Rosé on a particularly steamy hot day. I enjoy Spanish rosé as it has a bit more heft than the typical Provence rosé. The Particular rosé is pale pink in color with nice floral aromas. On the palate there are fresh berry and mineral notes. At 12.5% ABV, this is a lighter wine that is friendly with a variety of dishes including rice, pasta and light meat dishes – as well as being great on its own.

My wife is an ABC person – Anything But Chardonnay that is. Disregarding that, I popped open the Paniza Viura Chardonnay blend. Viura, also known as Macabeo, is the most widely grown white grape in northern Spain. In many cases, Viura is very ordinary tasting, light in body and acidic.

However, paired with Chardonnay in this 50-50 blend, it works wonders. The Chardonnay, finished in stainless steel, adds a depth of flavor. The Viura creates a different flavor profile when added to the Chardonnay. There are nice green apple notes and some tropical fruit too. Great for seafood and tapas.

The Corona de Aragon Garnacha Blanca was part of a wine dinner for which we were joined by out of town guests. The summer heat was unbearable, so we tried to keep everything light. To pair with the Garnacha we served a garden fresh Gazpacho topped with Collard Micro-Greens with Bell Pepper Focaccia. Of the four (or was it six?) bottles we served that night, the Garnacha Blanca was the favorite. We had arranged a different white to pair with our Potato & Wild Salmon Cakes with Ginger, Scallions and Dill Sauce – but our guests kept wanting to go back to the Garnacha Blanca until the bottle was dry.

The Garnacha Blanca has 13% Chardonnay and is pale yellow in color. The wine has more body than you may expect from a white wine with flavorings of lime and peach and aromas of white blossoms.

Cariñena is a wine region on the move. We expect to see more and more Cariñena wines on the shelves. The wines we tasted are fresh and invigorating – just the thing for an evening of entertaining or a special meal with friends and family.

Full Disclosure: These wines were received as a marketing sample.

Technorati Tags: Spainish wine,Garnacha,wine tasting,wine lover

Argentina Wine Elegance Delivered By Nieto Senetiner and Ruca Malen

Has Argentine Malbec lost its luster? After sipping bottles from these two producers, we say “no way!”

Dance Of The Grapes

Malbec and Argentina are linked like two dancers in a tango. Each step of the dance and each Malbec grape carries the culture of the Argentine people.

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Tango started with the lower classes in Buenos Aires and travelled across the ocean to become a huge hit across the world. Malbec became the “it” wine in the 2000s, propelling Argentina’s wines to new recognition. Has Malbec, and Argentina’s star faded in recent years? We opened bottles from two wineries – founded more than 100 years apart – to get some answers.

Nieto Senetiner Winery Has Tradition Of Quality

Our first bottle to sample was from Nieto Senetiner, a winery founded in 1888 by the first wave of Italian immigrants to Vistalba in the growing area of Luján de Cuyo near Mendoza. Perfectly situated at the best latitude for wine production, Mendoza accounts for more than 70% of Argentina’s vineyard acreage. Don Nicanor Nieto joined forces with his son-in-law Adriano Senetiner in the 1960s to purchase the historic Villa Blanca winery in Vistalba, renaming the venture Nieto Senetiner. Today, the winery encompasses 700 acres of estate vineyards in the DOC region of Luján de Cuyo.

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The Don Nicanor 2016 Malbec is a welcome surprise, with added complexity coming from 12 months of aging in French oak and vines with an average age of 30 years. These grapes are grown at 3,100 to 3,400 feet. The wine is round and rich with red fruit and a dash of spice. It is a great value at $18.

The Nieto Senetiner Malbec, at $13 SRP, is no slouch either. On a recent evening we served it along with a pricey Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. One guest couldn’t stop talking about how good the Malbec was! Vanilla and jam flavor notes are wrapped in smooth-drinking tannins.

Argentina excels in red wine. Malbec is certainly the most well known, but it isn’t alone. Nieto Senetiner 2015 Red Blend Collection is a mix of 55% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Franc and 15% Petit Verdot. 

We enjoyed this with a dinner of Italian eggplant and chicken parmesan. We found it to be a spot-on pairing. It will also go well with grilled beef or stews. There are luscious blackberry and violet flavors with silken textures. Retail is $15.

Boutique Flavors Flow From Ruca Malen

Ruca Malen was founded in 1998 by Jean Pierre Thibaud and Jacques Louis de Montalembert, who have association with France’s foremost winemaking houses. They worked together at Chandon Argentina and wanted to create wines that acknowledged their French heritage while capturing Mendoza's incredible terroir. Ruca Malen translated is “the house of the young girl,” taking its name from a Mapuche Indian legend.  A young tribal woman looked up to the heavens and fell in love with a handsome god. The god gave her a beautiful house, overlooking the world’s splendors.

We enjoyed the “splendors” of Ruca Malen during a wine dinner we hosted. The five course meal featured light and summery dishes and no red wines until the last two courses. For the meat course I fired up the grill to make my signature Mici – a skinless, spicy sausage popular in Romania. It is made with beef, lamb and pork and generous quantities of garlic. We served it on a pretzel roll with locally made German-style mustard and zucchini crisps.

For the pairing we selected the Ruca Malen 2015 Terroir Series Petit Verdot. A 100% Petit Verdot is hard to find, with the grape usually playing a minor role in blends. This bottle shone with bright red fruit flavors, threads of cocoa and hints of oak. At $18, this is an outstanding buy. A great example of other wine that Argentina produces very well.

Our epic wine dinner closed with a berry and chocolate ganache dessert that took decadence to a new level! Clearly this special dessert deserved a unique wine. After polling the guests and determining they didn’t want a sweet white dessert wine, I uncorked the Ruca Malen 2015 Terroir Series Malbec. This is an unconventional pairing. When a wine is this enjoyable, you can shrug off the unwritten rules.

The Terroir Series Malbec uses grapes from the high elevation Uco Valley. It has notes of plum and cherry with a vibrant acidity. The tannins are soft and enjoyable. It’s a young and fresh tasting wine. Retail is $18.

Ruca Malen was recently named “Most Popular Argentinean Wines in America” in a Wine & Spirits restaurant poll. We can understand why. The elegant flavors far surpass what you expect from a sub-$20 bottle.

Argentina and Malbec are alive and well. If you haven’t tried a Malbec or Argentine red for a while, here are two great producers to check out. Do so and your tango dancing will soon improve!

Technorati Tags: Argentina,Malbec,tasting notes,wine lover,Petit Verdot

Wine, Travel & Food News From Vino-Sphere: August 20, 2018

Care for Cotton Candy With Your Champagne?

In ode to French singer Edith Piaf’s song La Vie en Rose, the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Los Cabos is launching a Cotton Candy-topped Moët & Chandon Rose Champagne cocktail. The beverage will be served as a pre-dinner drink on arrival to its French fine dining restaurant, Piaf. At the restaurant and throughout the resort, guests are truly in a state of bliss where everything around is a source of joy as the meaning behind the song entails.

Virginia’s Blue Ridge Cheers Trail Focuses on Craft Beverages

Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge has debuted the VBR Cheers Trail and Passport guiding visitors and locals through the regional craft beverage scene. The Cheers Trail will lure visitors to the region and entice them to dine, explore and stay overnight. The Passport is an added incentive offering a variety of discounts specific to 25 craft beverage partners. "This is great news for VBR's booming craft beverage businesses and for the economy as a whole," said Landon Howard, President of Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge. "We are now more focused than ever on experience-based travel and ways to connect visitors with our travel and tourism partners."

The Cheers Trail Passport can be found at www.vbrcheerstrail.com and is free. Once you click on the link and access the web app, you simply register, follow the instructions and present the Passport to participating locations along the trail to redeem exclusive offers.

World’s Largest 3-D Printed Reef Submerged In Maldives As Environmental Initiative

The world's largest 3-D printed reef was submerged August 11 at Summer Island Maldives, in what is hoped could be a new technology-driven method to help coral reefs survive a warming climate.

The artificial reef, assembled with hundreds of ceramic and concrete modules, was submerged at Summer Island's 'Blue Lagoon' -- a sandy part of the lagoon, where the resort hopes to create a new coral reef ecosystem.

The project started in a lab in Melbourne, Australia, where industrial designer Alex Goad of Reef Design Lab used sophisticated computing modeling to design reef structures similar to the coral reefs found naturally in the Maldives.

A large 3-D printer whirred away for 24 hours to print molds of the reef structures. These moulds were cast in ceramic -- an inert substance, similar to the calcium carbonate found in coral reefs. The ceramic moulds were shipped to the Maldives, and filled with concrete on the beach at Summer Island.

220 ceramic, concrete filled molds were then slotted together, like a giant LEGO set, to create the new reef.

The new reef sits in seven meters of water, close to the resort's existing coral nursery. Fragments of coral from the nursery are being transplanted onto the 3-D reef, where they will grow and colonize the structure.

Founders of Open That Bottle Night To Speak At Wine Writer Event

Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher, founders of “Open That Bottle Night" and renowned wine journalists (grapecollective.com, formerly Washington Post) join a robust faculty of writers, editors, and coaches at the 15^th annual Symposium for Professional Wine Writers, to be held February 19 to 22, 2019 at Meadowood Napa Valley. "Open That Bottle Night" falls on February 23, 2019.

Girl Scouts Adding New Cookie

Girl Scouts of the USA have announced that a new cookie, Caramel Chocolate Chip, will join the 2019 Girl Scout Cookie^® season lineup, as a gluten-free offering with limited availability in select areas. With the returning gluten-free Toffee-tastic^® cookie, also available in select areas, consumers in all markets will be able to enjoy a gluten-free offering along with the rest of the lineup during the 2019 cookie season. The Girl Scout Cookie Program helps fund girls' development of entrepreneurial and essential life skills, and important experiences for girl members.

Oceania Liners Get $100 Million Makeover

Today, Oceania Cruises has launched the OceaniaNEXT initiative, including an array of dramatic enhancements designed to elevate the guest experience. The first initiative to be undertaken is the $100 million “re-inspiration” of the line's four 684-guest ships (Regatta, Insignia, Sirena, and Nautica) that will result in four better-than-new ships. Each will emerge from the re-inspiration process with 342 brand new designer suites and staterooms, and stunning new décor in the restaurants, lounges and bars, inspired by the line's 450 ports of call.

Seattle Company Releases Highest Caffeine Concentration Gummy

Seattle Gummy Company recently launched Mocca Shots™, a new product with the highest caffeine concentration available on the market. Each Mocca Shots™ dark chocolate gummy packs 100 mg of caffeine, the equivalent of a regular cup of coffee.

Seabourn Approved for Cruises To Cuba

Seabourn has received approval to begin sailing to Cuba from Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico, starting with a 12-day cruise aboard Seabourn Sojourn departing Miami on November 4, 2019. Seabourn becomes Carnival Corporation's third cruise brand currently approved to sail to Cuba.

The 11-, 12-, and 14-day sailings will visit five ports in Cuba, calling at three or four on each itinerary and providing guests the ideal opportunity to discover the different regions on this vast island. All five voyages will feature overnight stops in the historic capital city Havana.

Handcrafted Pisco Brandy Set To Launch In Chicago

Catan Pisco, a versatile grape-based spirit handcrafted in Chile, has announced their official launch in Chicago. To celebrate the long-awaited launch, Catan hosted a celebration at the Metropolitan Club in the Willis Tower in July. Featuring cocktails made from the very first case of Catan, the event was attended by the Chilean General Consul of Chicago, Rodolfo Montecinos. All attendees were treated to Chilean dishes made especially for Catan by chef Greg Carso and a performance of the traditional Chilean dance La Cueca.

"Pisco is Chile's spirit of choice and has been the cornerstone of our culture for centuries. I'm proud to be of Chilean descent and our tradition of starting family meals with a pisco sour or sipping it neat with friends at a bar are memories I hold dear," said Catalina Gaete, Catan Pisco founder and CEO.

New Signature Canadian Travel Experiences Highlighted

Destination Canada, Canada's national tourism marketing organization, is pleased to announce the addition of four new members to the Canadian Signature Experiences collection from across Canada.

The Canadian Signature Experiences are a curated collection of over 200 extraordinary and authentically Canadian travel experiences. As diverse as the country itself, these unique experiences are offered from coast to coast to coast and provide an introduction to the best Canada – and Canadians – has to offer.

The four new experiences are:

• Desolation Sound 5-day Cruise – Pacific Coastal Cruises (British Columbia) Travelers follow the route first established by Captain George Vancouver through one of the most species rich coastal marine environments on Earth. 
• Hot Springs Cove Excursion – West Coast Aquatic Safaris (British Columbia) Travelers will spend five hours in a pristine Pacific paradise, enthralled by wildlife viewing, wilderness walks, a scenic boat tour and floatplane ride and, of course, relaxing soaks in a one-of-a-kind setting.
• Aerial Views and Seaway Hues – 1000 Islands Helicopter Tours (Ontario) Travelers will soar in a small helicopter peering down through wide bubble windows at the grand, island-dotted St. Lawrence River.
• Sea to Sky Driving Experience – Scenic Rush (British Columbia) Travelers can take the wheel of a Lamborghini or Ferrari and feel the thunderous power of an exotic car as they drive 80 kilometers along one of British Columbia's most scenic and twisty highways.
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Coppola Winery to Release Canned Pinot Noir

Francis Ford Coppola Winery, is launching its first canned red wine with the 2017 Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Pinot Noir. This new product builds on the success of three high-quality white wines from the same can collection, including Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc that launched last summer.

"We're excited to show our continued commitment to premium canned wine by bringing the award-winning Coppola Diamond Collection Pinot Noir to a can offering," says Corey Beck, CEO and Chief Winemaker of The Family Coppola. "We were one of the first to put wine in a can and our dedication to superior quality, sustainability and authentic brands remains important to our business."

Terra Bella 2008 Estate Syrah, Paso Robles

Can this Syrah from Paso keep punching a full decade after the harvest? We uncork to find out.

Ten Years Are Gone

On a recent Friday night I pulled out the 2008 Terra Bella Estate Syrah from Paso. The bluesy sounds of John Mayall’s Ten Years Are Gone came to mind as I uncorked the bottle. “Ten years are gone, what of ten years from today?”

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Aging can do funny things to people and wine. Some mellow with age, some fade away and some just get weird. Which would it be with the Terra Bella?

Terra Bella is a former cattle ranch in Paso Robles that specializes in Rhone varieties and supplies grapes to some of the top California Rhone producers. Talented winemaker Andrew Murray crafted this single vineyard Syrah with grapes from the steep limestone hillsides of Paso Robles.

Into The Darkness

The drinking window for this wine was listed as going through 2017. High time to drink up! Pouring into the glass, the wine is an inky, opaque deep purple. On the neck of the bottle a fine coating of sediment lined the inside.

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On the nose there was a slight odor of acetone, making us wonder if we had waited just a year too long. Swirling and sipping dissipated the smell which gave way to subdued black fruit. The nose was pretty closed.

The Terra Bella has 15.5% ABV and seemed quite “hot” to me on first taste. The Green Dragon turned to me and said, “What are you talking about?” As the wine opened up I experienced the same slippery smooth tannins she was enjoying.

Despite being a decade on from vintage, this is still a big wine. Black fruit and blueberry notes contribute to a dark and powerful character. There are some brambly notes, which we love about Syrah – especially from hilly terrain. The wine has a medium-plus body and a hint of spice.

I’m not sure if Terra Bella is still producing their own wine, or just selling grapes from the vineyard, but this Syrah is an excellent one. We picked this up for a mere $18. To paraphrase John Mayall (with Blue Mitchell playing some mean trumpet behind the vocals), “Ten years are gone and the future worked out fine!”

Technorati Tags: Syrah,Paso Robles,wine tasting,California wine

JOLO Winery & Vineyards: North Carolina Winery Visit

What could be finer than the stirring sight of North Carolina’s landmark Pilot Mountain? How about a superb winery just a few miles away.

Setting A High Standard

Before we left Ohio to relocate to North Carolina, we had dinner with friends who served a bottle of wine from our new home state. It was a bottle of Pilot Fog from JOLO winery. It was a delightful treat and when headed back north on a recent trip, we made sure to stop at JOLO along the way.

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Many North Carolina wineries are blessed with spectacular mountain views. JOLO can boast a scenic view of Pilot Mountain to go with its wonderfully crafted winery and grounds.

We’ve had unique experiences over the years as we’ve visited more than 200 wineries. In some cases, the tasting room was some spare room in a barn where we were offered wine in plastic cups. Yadkin Valley’s JOLO is the opposite end of the spectrum – everything is first class all the way. The grounds of the estate are manicured and the tasting room would not be out of place in some of the top wine regions in the country.

The JOLO Tasting Experience

Before enjoying our tasting, we got a tour of the production area which also features a barrel-room tasting area. The use of local custom woodwork and a great sense of design makes the winery a decidedly upscale experience. You can even stay overnight at the Newlywed Chateau, a cozy bungalow-style building a few steps from the tasting room.

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The 80-acre property features a lake, flower gardens, marked trails and a bocce court. JOLO also boasts a great restaurant, Endposts. It has an outstanding view and an interesting menu that includes Chicken Lombata Salad, Soft Pork Tacos and Gouda Mac & Cheese Arancinis. We moved back into main room of the “tasting lodge” for our tasting.

Tastings cost $15 for seven wines. For an extra $5 you can take home a very large JOLO Riedel glass that can hold a bottle and a half of wine. (That way you can say you’re only have one glass of wine!)

JOLO does a great job not only with the traditional Bordeaux varieties, but also the French hybrid grapes that really do well in North Carolina. For example, the JOLO Twinkles, a lightly sparkling wine, has Chambourcin and Viognier.

The JOLO Beach Bubbles, another sparkler, is made with Traminette. It starts sweet with floral notes and tropical fruit.

The 2017 harvest is said to best the best at JOLO since the winery began in 2012. We were anxious to try the well-regarded Golden Hallows White. This is a dry white made with Vidal Blanc and Traminette. This light and crisp wine is delicious with notes of pineapple and pear. It retails for $25. We also tried the Golden Hallows Reserve (Lot 2) which is aged briefly in new American oak. This would be a spot-on wine for fans of oaky Chardonnay, but we preferred less oak in our whites.
With a rinse of the glass and a mental reset, we were ready to try the reds.

Rise Of The Reds

Crimson Creek is a light bodied wine made with Chambourcin. We’re fans of this French hybrid that was also popular in our former home state of Ohio. The tannins are nice and soft with notes of raspberry and herbs. The body is on par with Pinot Noir, so it is ideal for those who like reds, but not heavy-handed tannins. A nice value at $27.

JOLOTAGE is a Bordeaux blend with a twist. It features Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot – all Bordeaux varieties – as well as Chambourcin. It is a graceful wine with a medium to medium-plus body. The tannins are silky. There are nice layers of red fruit. It is aged in French and American oak and has spice and cedar flavor notes.  A great deal of care is spent picking the best lots and wines for blending and the results show. It is priced at $31.

Our most favored wine was Pilot Fog. This is made with Cynthiana, which is another name for the Norton grape. Cynthiana makes a deep, full-bodied wine. JOLO’s Pilot Fog is considered the most highly acclaimed wine in Yadkin Valley with a slew of medals to back up the claim. We were able to sample the 2017 vintage, but were brought down to earth when told that the wine is on allocation. It is only available to JOLO wine club members and they can only buy one bottle per visit. Needless to say, we savored every drop of this wine (which isn’t on the regular tasting menu). It’s a complex and substantial wine that would go great with lamb.

We wrapped up with a tasting of the JOLO Sangria and the Happy Endings Late Harvest Traminette. A sweet conclusion to our tasting!

JOLO is a not-to-be-missed winery with standout wines. Be sure to visit on your next trip to Yadkin Valley.

Technorati Tags: North Carolina wine,Chambourcin,winery visit,wine tasting,Yadkin Valley

Parducci True Grit Petite Sirah Elevates In Vertical Tasting

Sometimes one glass or one bottle just isn’t enough to measure the greatness of a wine. Join us as we take an exhilarating vertical leap into wine.

Digging Into True Grit

The words “True Grit” call to mind the late 1960s Western movie starring John Wayne. Wayne was a tough guy. In each John Wayne movie you can expect him to deliver a right hook onto the bad guy’s chin, sending the villain crashing through the saloon window.

He was rugged. He was tough. Mendocino County winery Parducci knew what they were doing when then dubbed their reserve Petit Sirah True Grit. It’s big and bold with plenty of heart.

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We’ve had three bottles of True Grit for a couple months, just waiting for the proper time to stage a vertical tasting. That time finally arrived when we returned to Ohio to visit friends and family. An over-the-top wine dinner was the perfect setting to taste the trio of Petite Sirah.

The Corkscrew Of Time

The meal was hosted by our good friends and tasting team members, the Cabernetor and Glorious T. We were house guests, so not only could we enjoy fantastic wine – but we wouldn’t have to drive home, just navigate a flight of stairs.

A vertical is a tasting of the same wine but at least three different vintages. This enables you to really understand the character of a wine and appreciate the nuances that differentiate harvests. If you can believe it, the vertical was just a part of a magnificent wine dinner, which I’ll share more about in the days to come.

The vertical wines were the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Parducci True Grit Petite Sirah. Parducci is the oldest winery in Mendocino County, founded in 1921. Their pre-Prohibition Petite Sirah vines are some of the oldest in America.

Our first task was to uncork the wines, which was easier said than done. The 2004 was the first to face the corkscrew. Cabernetor plunged the lever of the corkscrew and then withdrew the cork – or should I say half of it. Crumbling remains of the cork were still in the bottle. We tried the “ah-so” corkscrew with flat prongs that slide outside of the cork. You’re supposed to twist the tool and the cork will come out. But it didn’t.

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We ended up pouring the wine through a mesh filter into the decanter. The 2006 uncorked easily, but we had the same crumbly cork for 2005.

I wasn’t sold on the need to decant a 14-year-old wine, but it was a good call. Petite Sirah in its youth can be bold and brash. Even after more than a decade, these wines displayed hearty flavors that benefited from time in the decanter.

Duet With A Trio

After mingling and munching with appetizers then enjoying a carefully crafted salad course, our party of 10 was ready for the main dish: a duet of salmon and steak with asparagus and a cauliflower/potato dish. The food was lovingly prepared by Glorious T and Green Dragon (my wife). Cabernetor and I had been tasting each of the Petite Sirah vintages as they were opened just to make sure they would pair well with the entree. Despite the gritty reputation of Petite Sirah, age had mellowed the Parducci and we felt it would match superbly with the steak while not punching out the salmon.

We started with the 2004, not wanting a more aggressive 2006 to overshadow it. In a nod to Rhone winemaking, the 2004 actually has 2% Viognier, a white grape. The age and decanting had smoothed the rough edges from the wine. Instead of a lumbering John Wayne in a 10-gallon hat, it was light and nimble with notes of pepper and vanilla. Just right with the salmon.

When others zig, we zag, so for a reason not completely known to me now, we poured the 2006 next. The ‘06 was going strong, with robust flavors of blackberries and chocolate. This displayed lush flavors and was still firing its six-guns in the air shouting “yee-haw.” (Wait a minute, that might have been us!) This vintage has 4% Grenache and 2% Syrah. It has more intense flavors than the 2004.

Circling back, we served the decanted 2005. This has 8% Grenache and may not have undergone the same 25-month oak aging as the 2006. It was lightened by age and mellowed by integrated tannins.

Black fruit and traces of caramel were present as we enjoyed our delicious meal and chatted about everything under the sun. The 2005 is my favorite, I declared. The rest of the table voted 2004 as the standout. While no one professed 2006 as the best, its decanter was bone dry by the end of the night.

The ability to age is a hallmark of good winemaking. These are exciting wines made even more enjoyable by the aging process. Whereas a current vintage of Petite Sirah is all swagger and strength, aging adds finesse. The rounding of the tannins makes the wines suitable for a wider range of foods, too.

Usually when we review wines this old, we have to say “sorry, but they are no longer available.” This time, they are! Parducci is making these three wines available singly and all three as a vertical. Each is priced at $50. The vertical of three is priced at $140. If you prefer a more current vintage, the 2015 True Grit Petite Sirah is nicely priced at $30.

Time to saddle up for a tasting at the Vertical Corral!

Editor’s Note: As of this writing, the largest fire in California state history is burning in Mendocino County. Our thoughts and prayers are with the residents and firefighters there.

Full Disclosure: We received these wines as a marketing sample.

Technorati Tags: Mendocino County,Petite Sirah,vertical wine tasting,wine tasting

Wine, Travel & Food News From Vino-Sphere: August 6, 2018

Vienna Tourist Board Captures Bird’s-Eye Videos With Eagles

The Vienna Tourist Board sent eagles up into the skies to capture footage of the city from above. Now online, travel fans can watch it using VR goggles and experience the capital in 360° just as the eagles caught it on camera. Videos can be found here: http://youtube.com/vienna

Fritzi, Bruno, Darshan and Victor took to the skies on behalf of the Vienna Tourist Board, taking off from the top of the Danube Tower and a hot air balloon launched from the grounds of Palais Schwarzenberg. They were kitted out with 360° cameras and 16:9 format cameras on their backs. The eagles circled above the city capturing bird's-eye views in stunning 4k resolution supported by the production company Red Bull Media House, who were brought on board to give the Vienna Tourist Board campaign wings.

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"The project was a world first - never before had eagles wearing 360° cameras been used to capture footage of a major city," explained Norbert Kettner, CEO of the Vienna Tourist Board. It goes without saying that all the necessary animal welfare clearances were obtained before starting the project and none of the eagles - wearing lightweight cameras - came to any harm during filming.

Mercer and Delicato Announce Joint Venture

Delicato Family Vineyards and Mercer Wine Estates announced today they will launch a collaborative new wine from Washington. The new brand, Mercer Family Vineyards, is a partnership between two respected fourth-generation family wine companies.

The Indelicato family planted their first vineyards in California after Gaspare Indelicato emigrated from Sicily to California, and under the continued family leadership it has grown into a top-ten wine company with well-known consumer-loved brands such as Gnarly Head, Bota Box, Noble Vines, and Black Stallion Estate Winery on Napa Valley's Silverado Trail. The Mercer family settled in Washington'sHorse Heaven Hills as a farming family in 1886, they planted the first vineyard in the area in 1972. They released their first wine in 2005, and the portfolio has continued to garner high scores and respect from critics and the trade.  

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The first vintages of Mercer Family Vineyards, 2016-17, will include a Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Blend, and a Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon available nationally and rolling out August 1, 2018. In addition, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Malbec and Reserve Red Blend will be launched in the Pacific Northwest.

Surfliner Offers Special Angels-Padres Promotion

The Amtrak^® Pacific Surfliner^® announced the first-ever Surfliner Series as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim face the San Diego Padres at Petco Park for a series of three interleague games on August 13, 14 and 15, 2018. Fans can take advantage of special offers and promotions to save on both train travel and ballpark tickets, as well as, enter for a chance to win the Grand Slam Giveaway, where one lucky winner will get to throw out the first pitch at Petco Park on August 14 prior to the Angels-Padres game.

Texas Experiences One Of Their Most Successful Harvests

Historically having a short harvest period sets Texas vineyards behind. A shift in both wine demand and production methods in the wine industry has recently helped the region sustain a healthy harvest cycle. With their annual grape harvest starting in the summer month of July - that's four months ahead of growers in the ever-popular Napa region - the state has had one of their most successful seasons producing 38% more than 2017, continuing a growth trend.

With the market developing a growing taste for different blends including varietals that have a shorter hang cycle, the state's wine businesses are reducing their loss caused by those blends that require much lengthier dry times. "Paired with advances in winemaking technologies, mid-west wine producers are able to maximize efficiency and production costs helping them compete better inside and outside of their local markets," shares Texas-based award-winning wine collector, Marcus Hiles.

Craft Beer Tap Room Opens In Shanghai

The Stone Brewing Tap Room – Shanghai is now open, its third location to open across three continents in three months. The opening marks the first tap room by an independent American craft brewery in China, and raises the bar for craft beer in Asia.

"There's no other US craft brewer bringing this level of commitment to China right now," said Paul Gelinas, Stone Brewing Executive General Manager of China. "Independent American craft beer is of increasing interest to the craft beer community here, and Stone is truly bringing the full experience with guest beers, rare finds and the most impressive tap system available. We knew we wanted Stone's arrival in China to be something exceptional, and we're delivering in strides."

Stone's 300 square-meter bar and restaurant offers seating for 90 indoors and 28 in the additional 100 square-meter gardens (30-50 person capacity for events). Floor to ceiling custom roll-up doors open the tap room to the outdoors on two sides. The interior incorporates reclaimed wood, concrete, steel and vintage lighting around tables, a main bar and an oversized fireplace lounge. Vintage carpets and sofas warm the industrial elements for a visual experience as nuanced as the beers. Natural landscaping and stone boulders flow inside and out. Outside, guests can indulge in to-go beers while enjoying the property's grassy front lawn or lounge around a massive stone slab garden table.

Beaujolais Nouveau Rosé To Debut

Rosé fans will be joining Beaujolais Nouveau-lovers in eager anticipation of Thursday, November 15, when Beaujolais Nouveau Day also becomes Beaujolais Nouveau Rosé Day for the first time in the US.

On this day, the third Thursday of November when French law allows the release of the "first wine of the harvest," Les Vins Georges Duboeuf (the family owned-and-operated winery that popularized Beaujolais Nouveau across the globe) is launching a "new" Nouveau.

According to Franck Duboeuf, who manages the winery with his legendary father Georges, the Nouveau Rosé is made from Gamay grapes carefully selected from the best vineyards in AOC Beaujolais.  These same growers supply the winery with the grapes for their classic Beaujolais Nouveau.  Some of them have worked with Georges Duboeuf since the winery's first Nouveau release in 1983.

"We are excited to send a Beaujolais Nouveau Rosé to the US for the first time," Franck says.
Gamay grape skins are nearly black, while the flesh and juice are white, so these same grapes can produce either a red or a rosé wine.  Like the classic Beaujolais Nouveau, the Rosé is being made by Duboeuf's Chief Winemakers, Emeric Gaucher and Denis Lapalu,  The winemakers explained that they look for grapes fit for rosé -- those with a slightly high acidity to retain a fresh mouthfeel.

Dinner Time Stories To Open Interactive Meal In Toronto

The first Canadian pop-up of Dinner Time Stories, opens on Sep. 29 through Nov. 25 in downtown Toronto at Katana (333 Bay St.). Elevated by cutting edge 3D technology, the immersive dining experience takes guests on an adventure with Le Petit Chef, making his way along the historic route of Marco Polo on the Silk Road.

Combined with a refined six-course menu of international cuisine, the production delivers an unforgettable journey around the world in two hours.

Brought to life in Toronto by The Substance Group and Go West Creative, the show sets the tone for the evening with music, table patterns, props and decorations, all changing with the chapters of the story. Once guests take their seats, they are introduced to the hero of the story, Le Petit Chef, who comes to life onto their plates. Through 3D digital mapping, Le Petit Chef embarks on his travels in a projection timed to be perfectly in sync with each course.

"When I was first introduced to the Dinner Time Stories concept, I was completely blown away by the extraordinary technology, unmatched service and absolutely delicious food that draws you into the world of Le Petit Chef," says Neil Forester, owner of The Substance Group. "There is a huge appetite for something like this in Toronto and I am thrilled to lead the team that is bringing Dinner Time Stories to the city."

Besides the captivating visual element, the show's six-course menu is created behind-the-scenes by catering leaders 10tation and Chef Bashir Munye, taking diners along a unique exploration of flavours. Le Petit Chef begins his culinary exploits with an amuse-bouche of ratatouille, a French classic from his hometown of Marseille. As he continues on his travels, he makes his way through the desert and into the hills of the Himalayas, savouring cuisine from North Africa and India before ending with a selection of dishes from China. For the final course, Le Petit Chef creates his favourite dessert from Marseille, infused with elements and ingredients he has collected from his adventures across the world.

The show runs Friday to Sunday from Sep. 29 to Nov. 25, 2018, with two seatings nightly. Tickets are $200 per person at dinnertimestories.eventbrite.ca.

Drake’s Coffee Cakes Return

Drake's Coffee Cakes are now back on store shelves to the delight of Drake's consumers. With their delicious cinnamon streusel topping, Drake's Coffee Cakes were first introduced in 1930.
Drake's Coffee Cakes are a part of popular culture, having been featured in a story line on the TV sitcom Seinfeld. As with all Drake's® cakes, Coffee Cakes are certified kosher by the Orthodox Union. 

Wings Over The Rockies Attraction Opens At Colorado Airport

Exploration of Flight, a unique to the nation attraction, is now open at Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colorado, thanks to Wings Over the Rockies is a Colorado-based non-profit dedicated to educating and inspiring all people about aviation and space endeavors of the past, present and future.

The 19,000 square foot Boeing Blue Sky Aviation Gallery is broken up into two experience arenas. The first floor will cover the "experience" of flight. Strap into a tumbling gyro chair to understand the effect of G-forces on your body, interact with a wind tunnel using items of your own design, navigate mountain passes, witness leading edge technologies and even feel the thrill of flight through virtual reality.

On the second level, visitors will understand the "sequence" of flight. From mission planning and career readiness to a full-fledged viewing lounge, guests will be able to witness the excitement and buzz of the second busiest general aviation airport in the United States. Guests can even don a headset to hear chatter from Centennial Tower, a direct line into the complicated, yet fascinating, world of aviation communication.

Along with the robust array of interactive exhibits, the Blue Sky Gallery will include incredible opportunities to discover flight first-hand. Sit in the cockpit of pilot-quality flight simulators, interact with the latest aviation technology and even experience flight itself through a partnership with Aspen Flying Club.

Hess Select Cabernet and Pinot Noir Deliver California Flavor And Value

Looking for wines from Cali that don’t cost half your paycheck? We uncork two smooth sipping suggestions.

Sustainable and Affordable

Hess Family Wine Estates is a continent-spanning wine empire that includes brands in Napa, Sonoma and Argentina. Donald Hess founded the winery and oversaw the plantings of the first Hess Cabernet Sauvignon on Napa’s Mount Veeder more than 30 years ago.

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Hess is focused on sustainability, being a leader in environmental practices in California. Currently they are certified “Napa Green” and follow the dictates of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance Code of Sustainable Winegrowing.

While some of the wines in the Hess Collection can top $300 (for a magnum), the Hess Select range is much easier on the wallet. Prices range from $11 to $20. Hess Select wines originate from Hess estate vineyards in Napa Valley as well as partner growers in Lake, Napa and Mendocino counties. We recently uncorked the Hess Select Central Coast 2016 Pinot Noir and North Coast 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Juicy Bargains

The Central Coast Pinot 2016 vintage highlights grapes from the Sarmenta Vineyard from the Santa Lucia Highlands. The vineyard is located on the benchland of the Gabilan Mountains in Monterey. It’s a perfect Pinot scenario, with Pacific breezes cooling the grapes in the afternoon and allowing them to ripen slowly, developing full flavors.

Check out our reports on more than 200 wineries

We paired the Central Coast Pinot Noir with a nice pork tenderloin with balsamic vinegar reduction, tri-colored carrots and some sautéed fennel. Pork and Pinot is a favorite pairing of ours and the Hess Select showed nicely with flavors of ripe berries and a pinch of spice with nice silky tannins.

The Pinot is aged up to a year in neutral French oak, giving nice structure. This is a juicy bargain at only $20. About 5,000 cases were produced.

The 2015 North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petite Sirah, 4% Malbec, 2% Syrah, 2% Merlot and 2% Zinfandel. Aging is for 18 months in 35% new French and American oak.

We opened this as an after dinner wine and were pleased with its smooth drinkability. The alcohol content of the Cab is actually less than the Pinot Noir (13.84% versus 14.3%). This isn’t a bombastic big wine with hard tannins that requires cellaring for a decade. It’s a nice pick for right now.

At $19, we consider this an outstanding value in California Cabernet. Black fruit and cocoa flavor notes blend with ripe cherry and vanilla. It is full bodied with rounded tannins and a satisfying finish.

Don’t have $300 to drop on a magnum? Hess Select wines are a solid and satisfying choice.

Full disclosure: We received this wine as a marketing sample.

Technorati Tags: California wine,Pinot Noir,Cabernet Sauvignon,wine tasting

Left Coast Cellars Delivers Surprises And Wine Satisfaction

Willamette Valley’s Left Coast Cellars specializes in single vineyard wines. Our most recent tasting of Left Coast wines included something we absolutely didn’t expect!

Willamette Valley Standout

Left Coast Cellars is a 356-acre estate winery with steep hills creating a natural amphitheater surrounding a large meadow and spring fed lake. It is one of the largest contiguous vineyards in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The focus is on single-vineyard bottlings, drawing from eight different estate vineyards each with a unique microclimate.

Check out our reports on more than 200 wineries

We previously enjoyed a bottle of Left Coast’s Latitude 45° Pinot Noir. Our most recent tasting included the 2017 Rosé, 2017 “The Orchard” Pinot Gris and -- a nice surprise -- the 2017 White Pinot Noir. We tried each wine under different, and enjoyable, circumstances.

We Give Left Coast Wines The Patio Test

A warm summer night on the patio prompted us to open the chilled “The Orchard” Pinot Gris. We flamed on the tiki torches and poured a glass. The Orchard is 91% Pinot Gris with 9% Pinot Blanc.

The wine is further tweaked by using two different clones for each of the grape varieties. The Orchard Vineyard is planted at the site of a historic apple and pear orchard dating back to the pioneers who settled Oregon.

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Oregon produces our favorite style of Pinot Gris and Left Coast doesn’t disappoint. Good acidity and minerality frame delicious tropical fruit notes, green apple and kiwi. The wine is fermented and aged in stainless steel, keeping the flavors pure and delicious.

Summer around our house means plenty of rosé. We paired the 2017 Rosé with a grilled citrus shrimp and rice entree along with watermelon and corn on the cob. We just finished setting the table on the patio when the sky started to darken with billowing clouds. Into the house we went, just missing the downpour.

At the dining room table we started our feast with this unique rosé. The blend is 54% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier (a traditional grape for Champagne) and 6% Pinot Blanc. Add four months of aging in neutral oak and you have a very unique wine.

Unlike a typical rose that is fashioned in the Provence style, the Left Coast version has notes of spice and cherry. The color is pink bordering on copper. It's a unique take on rose that dances to its own piper. It is expressive and a perfect pairing for a myriad of foods.
Only 827 cases were produced. SRP is $24.

Unraveling The Mystery Of White Pinot Noir

Is white Pinot Noir just a novelty? That’s something we were asking ourselves as we poured the 2017 White Pinot Noir. It’s not uncommon in many countries to chill Pinot Noir, so we gave this a quick chill before opening. At the time we were watching the Wimbledon grand slam tennis tournament. There, tradition rules and players must wear all white while playing. So we went “all white” with our Pinot Noir.

This Pinot Noir has 9% Pinot Blanc, a white grape. It’s also fermented in stainless steel. So in many ways, this is a red wine made in a white wine style. The fruit is crushed at extremely cold temperatures to ensure minimal coloration from the skins. The color is that of light straw.

The aroma is peach and citrus. On the palate, the initial sensation is of a white wine, with pear and minerality. For me, the wine then had an extended mid-palate of cherry and the body weight of a red. The finish was again in line with a white wine.

Left Coast White Pinot Noir needs to be experienced to be fully understood. Salmon, a tried-and-true pairing for Pinot Noir, would be a good match as well as vegetables or chicken with light seasoning. Stay away from pork or heavier sauces -- there is a delicacy here you don’t want to obscure.
This is a unique and winning wine. SRP is $24.

Left Coast Cellars continues to intrigue with their well-crafted wines. If you are stuck on the Right Coast, North Coast or somewhere else, take the trip. The destination is delicious.

Full disclosure: We received these wines as a marketing sample.

Technorati Tags: Willamette Valley,Pinot Noir,rosé,wine tasting,Oregon