Grandfather Vineyard 2019 Appalachia Red, North Carolina

A high-elevation wine inspires us to tackle the highest mountain in the East.

North Carolina Wines Elevate Flavor

We recently spent a long weekend in Weaverville, North Carolina, a pleasant drive north from Asheville. It was time to hang out, jam on guitars, catch up with old friends, and open many bottles.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

For someone who lives at an altitude of 315 feet, Ashville is up there, at about 2,200 feet. We would propel even higher with this bottle from Grandfather Vineyard. The wine is from the Appalachian High Country AVA, established in 2016. It is a multi-state AVA, primarily in North Carolina but also with two counties in Tennessee and one in Virginia. This area has been know as High Country due to the higher elevations of the Appalachian Mountains.

Grandfather Vineyard is located along the Watauga River in the shadow of beautiful Grandfather Mountain, which soars to more than 5,900 feet. It was the first wine-producing vineyard in High Country. I  picked up this bottle at the NC Wine Digital Summit held in Dobson back in July. Our trip to the hills of Western North Carolina was a perfect chance to open it up.

The first thing that caught my attention was the label, proclaiming Thirty-Three Hundred Elevation. That’s the elevation of the vineyard where the steep slopes, cool climate, and rocky loam soil produce wonderful reds.

Joyful companions in this wine are two hybrid grapes: Marquette and Chambourcin. Marquette was developed at the University of Minnesota and is known for being cold-hardy. Chambourcin is a French-American hybrid first available in the 1960s. Its resistance to fungal disease makes it ideal for North Carolina.

The mountain reds of North Carolina are quite beautiful. This one is medium-light in body with black raspberry flavor and playful notes of cherry cola. The ABV is 14.5%, but this feels lithe and silky on the tongue. Just perfect as the sun set in Weaverville.

Mount Mitchell Tops Them All

We were inspired by this high-altitude wine to see Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi. The windy Blue Ridge Parkway through dappled sunshine brought us to Mount Mitchell State Park. At the base, the day was shirt-sleeve sunny. It was quite a different story as we parked at the summit lot. Windy gusts and cold weather caused us to layer up for the hike to the top.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

This wasn’t an attempt to summit Everest, but the walk on a wide, paved path, is rather steep. There are benches along the way in case you need a rest or aren't used to the elevation. A number of people conked out at various points. The observatory is a circular concrete lookout area that lets you check out the 360-degree view at 6,684 feet of elevation. Four annotated photo placards show you what you are looking at, which includes many peaks and lakes in North Carolina and Tennessee. We took a nature trail from the top down to the parking lot. It was great but may be considered strenuous for some with plenty of rocks and ups and downs. It took us about 30 minutes. Food and portapotties are available at the parking lot.

The number one tip is to prepare for cool weather at the top. It was comfortable in the mid-70s below and a windy, chilly 53 degrees on top. Allow plenty of time to get there, too. You'll be driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway, where speeds range from 35 to 45 mph.

The Mentors 2016 Canvas Red Blend, Western Cape

This bottle shows South African winemaking at its best.

During our recent trip to Florida, we stopped over in Savannah on the way back. We stayed at our favorite dog-friendly hotel there, the Kimpton Brice Hotel. Although the hotel has a couple of dog-friendly tables at the restaurant, we opted for the Secret Garden.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

The Secret Garden is an open courtyard where we could enjoy our takeout meal al fresco. Another benefit is that there is no corkage fee and I had conveniently brought The Mentors 2016 Canvas red blend. As our dog Amber settled beneath the table, I uncorked our wine.

This was one of my first purchases from WTSO, the online wine retailer with daily flash sales. When I saw a South African red blend that retails for $39 available for $17, I pushed the button. I’m glad I did.

The Mentors is one of the brands of South African Wine giant KWV (which is short for a nearly unpronounceable Afrikaner name). KWV was founded as a co-op in 1918 by wine growers. It did a lot of admirable things, but KWV also set quotas which resulted in quantity over quality in the country until they were abolished in the 1990s. KWV later helped establish the Wines of Origin program, which helps assure consumers of the top quality in South African wines.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

We’re superfans of South African wine since our safari there and romp in the winelands a number of years ago. South African wine, in our minds, combines the New World fruit-forward profile with Old World winemaking craftsmanship.

The Mentors range is named in honor of Abraham Perold, who developed Pinotage and is considered the father of modern South African viticulture. Canvas is a red blend of 39% Shiraz, 17% Grenache Noir, 17% Tempranillo, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Cinsaut, 6% Tannat. That’s a mighty cool blend, with the Tempranillo adding an interesting twist to the mostly Rhone-style wine.

On the palate this rocks with layers of dark cherry, raspberry, and violets. Vanilla highlights a smooth minerally finish. This delivers full-body satisfaction without bombastic tannins. It is great with grilled meat, or even pasta with meat sauce (as I enjoyed in the Secret Garden). The only drawback is that I only purchased only one bottle (which I have since rectified!).

If you haven’t been drinking South African wine, this is a beautiful introduction. It’s still available on the WTSO website. Cheers!

Livermore Valley Wine Dinner Highlights Region’s Diverse Styles

Livermore Valley wines deliver more enjoyment at gourmet food pairing event.

Winter Vino Dinner A Memorable Night

When I attended a recent International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association webinar, it reminded me of the greatness of Livermore Valley wines. This California AVA, just about an hour east of San Francisco, has 50 wineries ranging from 100-case boutique operations to 400,000-case industry heavyweights. There are more than 30 grape varieties grown there. Be sure to check out my recent article to get the background on this historically important area.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

Following the webinar, the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association was kind enough to send some bottles for a more wide-ranging tasting of the area’s wine. To help with this arduous task, it was time to call in reinforcements!

We decided to stage Winter Vino and wine and food pairing dinner and invited three other couples. Each couple would prepare a dish to pair with one of the wines. I must say, they outdid themselves. Special thanks to the Green Dragon for overseeing the entire food aspect of the event.

We had originally scheduled the event for Friday evening, but predictions of a winter storm and dangerous roads caused us to recalibrate and move the dinner to Sunday. The snow was melting by that time, but there was still enough for me to make a wine snowman out front with a five-liter Jeroboam bottle. Here’s a look at the dishes and the Livermore Valley wine from the soiree.

Longevity Family Winery 2020 Rosé of Deb-Ru-Veé and Charcuterie

This limited production rosé was our arrival wine. The wine is ruby pink and has fresh strawberry, apple, and citrus notes. It is 69% Grenache, 17% Syrah, and 14% Mourvèdre. Longevity is a black-owned winery founded by Phil and Debra Long. This wine is a salute to Debra, who passed away in 2019 from cancer. This wine is a favorite at the winery.

The wine is dry, but is elegant with plenty of fruit. It paired nicely with our charcuterie and mingling. Please note the salami “rose” in the photo. SRP $24.

 

Page Mill Winery 2014 Blanc de Blanc with Shrimp and Caviar

It was suggested by my friend Arthur Barham (of Merlot2Muscadine) that we begin the dinner with sabrage. If possible, I wanted to saber a sparkler from Livermore Valley. Tami Kelly, who handles PR for Livermore Wine Country, rode to the rescue and arranged for this beautiful bottle of traditional method Blanc de Blanc from Page Mill.

This is a labor-intensive wine and it gets three years of aging after the wine gets its second fermentation in the bottle. For six months the bottles are turned by hand two to three times a day as part of the process.

A couple of good strokes from my Champagne saber sent the top of the bottle sailing into the night sky. The wine is crisp with light yeasty notes. It was a dazzling start to our dinner. SRP – $75. 

Las Positas Vineyards 2020 Estate Albariño with Baltimore’s Best Crab Cakes

with Butternut Squash/Pear Soup Shooters with Pepitas

Albariño is Spain’s most famous white wine and it is gaining a strong foothold in the US as well. The Albariño from Las Positas is a beauty with green apple aromas and crisp grapefruit, pineapple, and lemon notes. This wine is aged in stainless steel with 20% being fermented in neutral barrels.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

In Spain’s Rias Baixas region, this pairs immaculately with mussels and other fresh seafood. We also found the seafood match to be golden. The Green Dragon whipped up some Baltimore-style crab cakes accompanied by a soup shooter. The soup was butternut squash and pear topped with pepitas. Just the perfect bite for this wine (although I could have used another crab cake or two!). SRP – $35.

Garré Vineyard 2019 Chardonnay Reserve with Salmon Marseille with Beurre Blanc and Julienne Vegetables

This Chardonnay from Garré is uber-limited, with just 100 cases produced. It is barrel fermented and sur lie aged in American Oak for six months. It also gets partial malolactic fermentation. The technical notes fail, though, to portray the beauty of this wine. It’s creamy with a satiny mouth feel. There are luscious notes of apple, apricot, and tropical fruit.

The pairing of poached salmon covered in a beurre blanc sauce was prepared by Diane and Gary. It was melt-in-your mouth delicious. It was hard to concentrate, however, because Arthur kept saying loudly, “I love beurre blanc!” SRP – $42.

Murrieta’s Well 2019 The Spur with Beef Short Ribs Served Over Creamy Polenta

The Spur is one of our favorite red blends. It introduced me to the flavorful possibilities of Livermore Valley wines a number of years ago. We’ve sampled a number of Murrieta’s Well wines, and they are sensational. The 2019 The Spur is made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petite Sirah, 9% Merlot, 7% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot. This is a rich-tasting wine with black cherry notes, rounded tannins, with hints of oak and baking spice.

Sharon and Bill provided the short rib dish and it was a luscious pairing with The Spur. The juice from the short ribs melded with the creaminess of the polenta creating a winner. SRP – $40.

Wood Vineyards 2018 “Big Wood” Zinfandel with Forest Mushroom Risotto with Broccoli Rabe

We didn’t know quite what to expect with the Big Wood Zin, especially since its ABV is 16.8%. That is indeed a big wine. The first few sips dispelled any wariness. This is big, bodacious, and beautiful. In the glass, it is deep dark cherry in color. Plush cherry flavors combine with chocolate notes and ample vanilla. This is a plump wine with round, juicy tannins.

Green Dragon delivered on the food pairing for Big Wood, creating a Forest Mushroom Risotto with broccoli rabe with unlimited quantities of grated parmesan cheese. My question is, “Broccoli rabe, where have you been so long?” The delicate broccoli rabe with the richness of the risotto went hand-in-hand nicely with Big Wood. SRP – $36.

Lineage 2017 with Bacon-Wrapped Beef & Lamb Meatloaf with Blackberry Ketchup Glaze, Grilled Root Vegetables, Red Bliss Potatoes and Sauce Chasseur

When you are in the presence of greatness, you know it. That’s how we felt with the 2017 Lineage. Steven Mirassou, a sixth-generation winemaker from America’s oldest winemaking family, has a goal to make one of the truly great Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines in the world. He struck paydirt with the 2017 Lineage. Renowned wine critic Steve Heimoff awarded the 2017 Lineage an unprecedented 100 points. Heimoff remarked that of the thousands of Cabernet blends he’d tasted over the course of his career, “None have been better.”

Arthur and Mary had the challenge of creating a dish to pair with this 100-point beauty. They delivered in grand style: a tower of perfect meatloaf bathed in a blackberry ketchup glaze and sauce chasseur. It was certainly the best sauce chasseur I’ve ever had (I’ll let you guess how many I’ve tasted…).

Lineage has 75% Cabernet Sauvignon with 20% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. A total of 3,984 bottles were produced – and we were able to sample #240. The wine has lovely layers and although this is a big wine, it feels balanced with every grape playing the perfect role. Black cherry, light oak, and mint notes add to the experience of savoring this beauty. Red fruit notes, courtesy of Cabernet Franc, add acidity.

This is a wine that can age for 30 years. We just couldn’t wait. Arthur’s meatloaf was a stack of goodness, and certainly worthy of a fine dining restaurant and a 100-point wine.

Cheers to the Livermore Valley AVA and all of our guests who made this evening so special.

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

Burgenland The Champion Of Austrian Red Wine

Wine from Austria’s Burgenland is diverse and delicious.

Burgenland Pleasure

Wine in Austria is closely wedded to Grüner Veltliner, the most important grape variety in the country. While this light and sometimes spicy white grape produces by far the most wine in Austria, there is one Austrian region that flips the script. Burgenland, the easternmost region in Austria, produces the most red wine in the country.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

“Burgenland is the youngest winegrowing region in Austria,” said Georg Schweitzer, managing director of Wein Burgenland. He is quick to point out that the winegrowing tradition in the area dates back to 3000 BC. That apparent contradiction is explained by the fact that Burgenland was formerly part of Hungary. In 2021, Burgenland celebrates 100 years together with Austria.

The Burgenland wine region is the warmest in Austria, hence its great suitability for producing outstanding red wines. At the top of the list is Blaufränkisch, also known as Lemberger. That’s an unfamiliar grape to many wine drinkers. Austria has its own unique wine style and, in fact, grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay aren’t even among the top five grapes produced.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

In Burgenland, Blaufränkisch is followed by Zweigelt (another red variety) and then Grüner Veltliner, in terms of grapes grown. In Austria, the second most common white grape is Welschriesling, a variety distinct from Riesling that most likely originated in Northern Italy. During the recent tasting hosted by Wein Burgenland, we had the opportunity to explore Blaufränkisch in all its glory as well as some unexpected surprises.

Burgenland Bubbles And Underdogs

The tasting opened with bubbles to dispel everyone’s troubles. The light and creamy 2019 St. Laurent Ancestral Pet Nat from Claus Preisinger was followed by the 2017 Cuvée Prestige from Sektkellerei Szigeti. Sparkling wines are becoming more important in Austria, with an increase of 200% over the last two years.

As Georg stated that the world has three important wine regions starting with “B” – Bordeaux, Burgundy and Burgenland, we enjoyed the “underdog” whites from the region. The 2020 Welschriesling from Winery Straka featured a smooth texture, fresh grass aroma and herbal influences. Oysters on the half-shell paired with the 2019 Chardonnay Ohne from Winery Hareter Thomas. This Chardonnay was unfiltered with orange peel on the nose, herbs, chalkiness and earth on the palate. The 2019 Grüner Veltliner Vulkan Alte Reben from Winery Kolfok is an example of a modern style Grüner with a funky aroma and complex stone fruit flavors.

Blaufränkisch And Cuvée Wines

For me, having a glass of Blaufränkisch is a real treat. The grape is becoming more visible in the US, with great examples in the Finger Lakes and even North Carolina. To have a Blaufränkisch flight of four wines as we did really made me ecstatic. The flight displayed the diversity of this late-ripening grape which is beautifully able to capture the nuances of its particular vineyard.

The 2018 Blaufränkisch from Winery Schiefer.pur has cherry fruit and earthiness on the nose. On the palate, there is smooth red cherry, a hint of spice and dirt followed by a long finish. This lighter wine was contrasted with the 2017 Der Geistesbltiz, Mittelburgenland DAC Reserve Blaufränkisch Ried Dürrau. The latter wine is a single vineyard bottle that is aged for two years in partially new French oak. The toasted aromas come through as do blackberries, forest floor, and currant.

The 2016 Blaufränkisch Joiser Kirschgarten by Winery Umathum is fresh and structured. The tannins hint at the potential for long aging. This darkly colored wine sees Austrian, Slovakian, and French oak for two years. It is an elegant wine with a chalky note and hints of oak. The 2008 In Signo Sagittarii Blaufränkisch is an ideal partner with a steak. It is aged 24 months in French oak and is deliciously deep with cocoa, smoke, and plum flavors.

We love Super Tuscans and were delighted to learn that Burgenland has the equivalent, special cuvées that blend the native grapes of Austria with international varieties. The 2019 Naturschönheit from Winery Hareter Thomas is a blend of Zweigelt and Saint Laurent that is fresh and clean. The 2018 Tridendron from Winery ET is a superb Merlot, Blaufränkisch, and Cabernet Sauvignon blend that is electric with a hint of black tea leaf and toast.

The 2017 The Oak Cuvée from Eichenwald Weine is a Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt, Merlot, and Cabernet blend that gets 28 months in new French oak. It is full-bodied with dark black fruit flavors and toasted and roasted mocha. The 2016 In Signo Leonis from Winery Heribert Bayer blends Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt and Cabernet Sauvignon. This is an oak-dominated wine. Inspired by the zodiac sign Leo, this wine roars with flavors of mint, dark berries, cedar, and dark chocolate.

We closed the tasting with the 2018 Ruster Ausbruch “Auf den Flügen der Morgenröte” dessert wine. This is a blend of Furmint and the Welschriesling that has an amazing nose. There are flavors of botrytis, honey, and ripe berries.

Burgenland is producing beautiful wines. They aren’t in the stores, you may say. Yes, they are, but you must look. The effort will be rewarded. For additional information check out Wein Burgenland.

L’Ecole Perigee Premium Red Blend A Case Study In Wine Aging

The wheel of time makes a big difference in wine body and flavor.

Lessons Learned

As time marches on, my wine knowledge and style have changed too. Decades ago my preference was sweeter white wines. As my wine tasting expanded, a drier palate evolved and dry reds rose to the top of my list.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

Learning about drinking windows (the ideal time to open a wine – and I don’t mean “Tuesday”) and decanting wine represent another level of wine knowledge. I’ve experimented with aerators, which I’ve found really can perk up a wine – especially a “day after” bottle. Mostly I prefer to decant my bottles, pouring the wine into a glass container to allow it to breathe for an hour or two before we drink.

How Aged Wine Is Different

Recently we opened bottles of the L’Ecole No. 41 Perigee – the flagship red blend of this beloved Walla Walla winery. We had two vintages: the 2018 and the 2015. It allowed me to apply a lesson I learned about decanting wine.

At one time I opened a bottle of red that was 10 years on from the vintage date. I poured a small taste and proclaimed it awesome. I decided to decant it to make it “awesomer.” Why, oh why, did I do it? The beautiful hills and ridges of flavor had flattened out and the magic had been lost.

So at the cost of missing out on the full pleasure of one bottle, I learned an important lesson. Young, robust reds should be decanted, but older vintages can lose their mojo if decanted. With the Perigee, I decided to decant the 2018, but after a sip of the 2015, I decided that it was drinking beautifully and required no decanting.

As a side note, a poor-quality wine will not improve with age. A $12 bottle of Cabernet won’t transform into Screaming Eagle if left to age for 20 years. As one California winemaker explained to me, carefully crafted winemaking is like building the foundation for a house. With a poor foundation, the house will crumble. A good foundation will stand the test of time.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

Perigee is a Cabernet-focused Bordeaux-style blend. For 2018 the mix is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, and 9% each of Petit Verdot and Malbec. In 2015 the blend stays true to the style, but the percentages vary slightly. Both vintages were aged for 22 months in small French barrels and have ABV of 14.5%.

Another important note on the differences between aged and newer wine: your food selection is key. For big, bold reds with a heavy tannic structure, you need to match it with bold flavors, perhaps a grilled steak. The fat and juices help soften the tannins. With an aged wine, you are dealing with subtle and delicate flavors that could get bowled over by strong flavors. Go for roasted or baked dishes with subtle sauces that won’t compete with your fine wine.

Head To Head

The first thing to note is that both of these bottles are wonderful. At a price point of $57, Perigee delivers an upscale wine experience and won’t break the bank. The grapes come from the award-winning Seven Hills Vineyard using the most distinguished blocks. It is one of the warmest vineyard locations for L’Ecole and it allows even the late-maturing grapes to ripe fully. That’s important since more than a third of the blend comes from Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.

The 2018 has a bold start with blackberry and violet components. Upon opening up, you experience the refined, laid-back aspect. The 2018 vintage in Washington is hailed as universally great and the Perigee is an elegant wine built for aging. The Merlot adds nice black cherry and cedar notes that lead to a velvety finish. This is a lovely wine that will only gain by extra years of aging.

In 2015, Walla Walla experienced its warmest vintage on record. The heat means the 2015 Perigee has lower acidity, but what is lost there it gains in aromatics. Aromas of blueberry and tobacco lead into toasted oak, leather, and cranberry characteristics. This is a fully realized, gorgeous wine to savor.

Both wines have limited production of less than 1,500 cases. The 2018 is the current vintage and thanks to L’Ecole’s library program a small number of 2015 bottles are available for sale at $73. You’ll need to contact the winery and there is a two-bottle limit.

In closing, I’ll share my most important lesson on aging wine. Buy multiple bottles. We don’t host galas for hundreds of people, so it doesn’t make sense for us to purchase cases of wine. However, buying two or three bottles allows you to enjoy one now and let the others age gracefully in your cellar or cooler.

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

Serre Vineyards: North Carolina Winery Visit

A newcomer to the NC wine scene, this Mt. Airy winery scores high marks.

On The Road Again!

Serre Vineyards, in North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley, captured our imagination since we learned of its opening. It’s at the northern end of North Carolina’s wine country and not far from where we were recently staying in Mt. Airy.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

Our trip was the first real wine sortie since the pandemic began. We began our trip visiting a winery in Virginia, but now we were on our home turf once again, and ready to sip some excellent wine.

Serre Vineyard is located on Beast Trail in Mt. Airy and the name of the road piqued our interest. We found that things were not beastly, in fact, quite the opposite. Still, The Beast would make a great name for a wine, wouldn’t it?

The tasting room is actually a tasting barn, and we were delighted to learn that it was styled after one of our favorite Finger Lakes wineries, Hermann J. Wiemer. We’ve had the good fortune to visit the Wiemer tasting barn and the 3,000 square-foot Serre facility captures the same feel, open and airy. It’s built in the modern farmhouse style with European accents. In the time of COVID, its crisp and clean look was also welcome.

New Vines Taking Root

Serre opened in September 2020 and so at this point, the grapes and winemaking come from outside sources, specifically Round Peak and Childress wineries. The vines are now in the ground for the estate vineyard and as they bear fruit, the winery will transition to its own grapes.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

The property is 70 acres of farmland at more than 1,300 feet in elevation with a stellar view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We started our visit inside the tasting room but soon ambled out to the best spot at the winery: comfortable Adirondack chairs with views of the mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Cumberland Knob.

Owner and “chief tasting officer” Christian Krobisch has a background in finance and is currently working with the helpful winemakers in Yadkin Valley to learn his craft and in time assume full-time winemaking duties.

Have no fear, there is plenty of wine at the winery and it’s quite good! Lauri led us through our tasting, which began with white wine and a rosé.

The 2019 Chardonnay is a light wine with bright flavors of apple. It’s barrel-fermented in French Oak and aged for 10 months before being finished in stainless steel. The next wine is one that we know will be popular during North Carolina’s humid summer days: the 2019 Knockout Rosé. Knockout is made from Sangiovese and its secret power is bubbles. The wine is made in a frizzante style and the light bubbles seemed to make the wine twice as refreshing.

Red Wines Shine

Our appetites were whetted for the red wines to follow. The 2018 Cabernet Franc exemplifies what we love about North Carolina wine. It has graceful notes of red fruit and a touch of herbs. Good acidity means a balanced and lively wine. A bottle retails for $34.

Cabernet Sauvignon is a riddle for North Carolina producers. It is difficult to coax the depth of color and the intensity of flavor that West Coast wines enjoy. Serre offers a good 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, but our preference is for the other reds offered.

A case in point is the 2017 The Early Blend. Made in cooperation with Round Peak Vineyards, The Early Blend is… wait for it… a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and a splash of Barbera. This is Serre’s best-selling wine. We found it to be beautiful with swirls of blackberry and plum.

Italian grapes have found a home in the North Carolina mountains, with Sangiovese showing particularly well. The 2018 Reserve Sangiovese was my favorite, with savory flavors of cherry with floral accents and a base of earthy rusticity. The Green Dragon and I enjoyed a glass of The Early Blend and the
Reserve Sangiovese respectively while enjoying a picnic lunch at the Adirondack chairs out back.

In the “it’s not our thing but it might be yours” category, we also tasted the semi-sweet Carolina Wine Mixer (Chardonnay and Pinot Gris) plus the sweet Nautilife Rosé. The Rosé is made with

California Grenache grapes and features a remarkable plastic bottle. It looks just like a glass bottle but can bounce -- which is helpful if you’re having fun out on a boat or a setting where a glass bottle might shatter.

Serre Vineyards offers live music and other special events. Charcuterie is available for snacking. In May, Serre is open weekly except for Tuesday and Wednesday. Serre is also a perfect location for your own special event or wedding.

We’re excited to see the addition of Serre to the NC wine scene and fully expect it to develop into one of the most popular winery destinations in the state. We suggest you visit now to avoid the crowds!

L’Ecole No. 41 2015 Perigee, Walla Walla Valley

L'Ecole Perigee sends wine lovers into orbit.

Artisan Wine In Walla Walla

When the topic is Washington State wine, L’Ecole No. 41 Winery is usually in the middle of the conversation. L’Ecole is a third-generation family winery that has been producing artisan wine since 1983. It was the third winery established in the wondrous Walla Walla Valley.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

Not only does it have the pedigree, but its prominence and visibility have grown along with its national and international distribution. When we saw the L’Ecole Perigee on sale, we quickly snapped it up.

We recently returned to Ohio to visit family and friends and I wanted to have a stirring wine to share. With our friends Steve and Maria, we opened the bottle out on Steve’s deck.

A World-Class Vineyard

The 2015 Perigee is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 14% Cab Franc, 7% Petit Verdot and 7% Malbec. We like that blend, not over-weighted with Cabernet Sauvignon.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

The grapes come from the famed Seven Hills Vineyard. L’Ecole is a partner in the 190-acre vineyard, which has been named one of the Top Ten Vineyards of the World by Wine & Spirits magazine. The vineyard has wind-blown loess and the soils are geologically young and rich in minerals. The oldest and most distinguished vineyard blocks are used in this flagship wine.

Heavenly Glass Of Wine

As the sky darkened the fire pit was lit and the wine flowed along with the conversation. The perigee is the part of an orbit that is closest to Earth. So, I’d like to think that in this case, something heavenly came down within our reach.

The wine is a dark beauty, big smooth and velvety. Multiple layers improve as it unwinds in the glass. There are layers of rich plum and blueberries melded with earth and cedar notes. The tannins are finely polished, leading to a rewarding finish.

This is a seductive wine, ready to drink now or age for another two to three years. The 2015 vintage is sold out, but the 2017 is available from the winery at $54.

Byrd Vineyard 2012 Red Wine, Mendocino

This Byrd flies high with taste and quality.

Mountaintop Wines

When someone has an amazing revelation, it’s called a mountaintop experience. The saying is probably based on the Biblical story of Moses, who came down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments and was literally all aglow.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

We like mountaintop experiences ourselves, either by visiting mountains, like Pike’s Peak or the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica. We also particularly savor wines made with mountain grapes.

The high altitude provides plenty of sun during the day and nice cooling at night. The hilly terrain means great drainage and with less nutrients in the soil, the vines are stressed. The cooler temperatures allow the grapes to develop acidity and nuances before they ripen. The grape yield is lower, but the flavors are concentrated and intense.

Soaring High

We had the chance to enjoy a superb wine from Byrd Vineyard during our roadtrip to Ohio last week. Ten years ago Bruce Byrd began exploring the peaks and volcanic soils of the Mayacamas Range in California. He found his spot far above the fog line, at 2,400 feet. There the marine sediments, shale, sandstone, chert, and gravel all contribute to the unique mountain terrain of Byrd Vineyard’s estate.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

This is the far northern end of the Mayacamas Range, in Mendocino County, where there is nothing to intrude between the mountains and the Pacific coast. These are the highest-elevation vineyards in California.

After receiving our first vaccine shot, it was time to make an important family visit. While in Ohio, we gathered at a friend’s house to uncork some remarkable wine, including the 2012 Red Blend from Byrd.

The special occasion required some truly exquisite wine. The Byrd Bordeaux-style blend filled the bill perfectly.

The 2012 Red Wine is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. This wine earned a silver medal at the prestigious San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and it’s easy to see why the judges were captivated. At nine years since vintage, the wine has evolved into an elegant, rounded sip with tannins integrated seamlessly.

While this bottle could certainly accompany a nicely marbled steak, we enjoyed a casual meal of Mediterranean food and when the Byrd arrived, we had dark chocolate and sea salt-covered pretzels. A delightful pairing if ever I’ve had one.

This is a full-bodied wine. On the palate, there is a superb balance with pure blueberry, cocoa, and cigar box notes. A delightful acidity keeps the flavors precise with no flabby fruit. Tastes of sour cherry, plum and accents of vanilla guide you to a lingering finish that demands another glass.

We were not familiar with Byrd Vineyard before we popped open this bottle, but this boutique winery is creating some gorgeous wines. Their success is right up there with the elevation of their vineyards. The SRP for the 2012 Red Wine is $65. It’s drinking perfectly right now, so you may want to grab two or three bottles. Enjoy one now and lay down the others.

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

Glenelly 2009 Grand Vin, Stellenbosch

A new APWASI wine certification means we pop open a special bottle.

South Africa Certified!

For the past few weeks, I’ve been studying South African wine as part of the Asia Pacific Wine and Spirit Institute Certified South African Wine Specialist program. I previously completed the Certified Argentinian Wine Specialist course and now just passed the exam for the South Africa certification.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

A major wine holiday took place while I was studying, Open That Bottle Night. On OTBN, you are supposed to open a special bottle (instead of letting it gather dust waiting for a super-special occasion). Our selection was the 2009 Glenelly Grand Vin from Stellenbosch. I chose the bottle for a couple of reasons. First, it was timely in light of my APWASI studies. It was also one of the last remaining wines we brought back from our trip to South Africa in 2015.

Memories Of A Safari And The Winelands

It was a special trip that caused us to fall in love with the country, its people, animals, cuisine, and wine. Glenelly has a stylish tasting room (or cellar door as they say in South Africa) and has a wonderful art glass collection. In fact, one of their ranges of wine is called the Glass Collection.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

We not only did a tented safari (OK, it was more like "glamping") but also visited Cape Town and the South African wine country. Known as the Winelands, these are perhaps the most scenic wine regions on earth.

Winemaking in South Africa dates back to the 1600s when the Dutch settled the area at the continent's tip. It was believed that wine would help prevent scurvy for sailors, so this became a popular stop for ships sailing between Europe and India.

The country ranges from a mild Mediterranean climate to desert conditions, resulting in a wide range of different wines and styles. Since the end of apartheid in the 1990s, there has been a boom in wine quality.

The Best Of Both Worlds

While South Africa's best-known white wine is Chenin Blanc, known locally as Steen, it also produces beautiful Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. For red wines, the signature grape is Pinotage, a unique grape that is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault. Perhaps our favorites are the Bordeaux-style red blends (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Merlot, etc.). The winemaking is a wonderful blend of New World flavors with Old World craftsmanship.

Stellenbosch is known as the Kingdom of Cabernet, and the Grand Vin blend includes Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.

When we first tasted it at the winery, it was more fruit-driven. In the years since it evolved to have lovely toasted caramel notes with flavors of cooked fruit and black tea. The body remains smooth and supple. Delightful!

Nelle ultime settimane ho studiato vino sudafricano nell'ambito del programma di specialista del vino sudafricano certificato Asia Pacific Wine and Spirit Institute. In precedenza ho completato il corso Certified Argentinian Wine Specialist e ora ho appena superato l'esame per la certificazione Sud Africa.

Mentre studiavo si è svolta una grande festa del vino, Open That Bottle Night. Su OTBN, dovresti aprire una bottiglia speciale (invece di lasciarla raccogliere polvere in attesa di un'occasione super speciale). La nostra selezione è stata il Glenelly Grand Vin 2009 di Stellenbosch. Ho scelto la bottiglia per un paio di motivi. Innanzitutto, è stato opportuno alla luce dei miei studi APWASI. È stato anche uno degli ultimi vini rimasti che abbiamo riportato dal nostro viaggio in Sud Africa nel 2015.

È stato un viaggio speciale che ci ha fatto innamorare del paese, della sua gente, degli animali, della cucina e del vino. Glenelly ha un'elegante sala degustazione (o porta della cantina come si dice in Sud Africa) e ha una meravigliosa collezione di vetri d'arte. In effetti, una delle loro gamme di vini si chiama Glass Collection.

Non solo abbiamo fatto un safari in tenda (OK, era più come "glamping") ma abbiamo anche visitato Cape Town e la regione vinicola sudafricana. Conosciute come le Winelands, queste sono forse le regioni vinicole più panoramiche della terra. La vinificazione in Sud Africa risale al 1600, quando gli olandesi stabilirono l'area all'estremità del continente. Si credeva che il vino avrebbe aiutato a prevenire lo scorbuto per i marinai, quindi questa è diventata una tappa popolare per le navi che navigano tra l'Europa e l'India.

Il paese varia da un clima mite mediterraneo a condizioni desertiche, risultando in una vasta gamma di vini e stili diversi. Dalla fine dell'apartheid negli anni '90, c'è stato un boom della qualità del vino.

Mentre il vino bianco più conosciuto del Sud Africa è lo Chenin Blanc, conosciuto localmente come Steen, produce anche bellissimi Chardonnay e Sauvignon Blanc. Per i vini rossi, l'uva firma è il Pinotage, un'uva unica che è un incrocio tra Pinot Nero e Cinsault. Forse i nostri preferiti sono le miscele rosse in stile bordolese (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Merlot, ecc.). La vinificazione è una meravigliosa miscela di sapori del Nuovo Mondo con l'artigianato del Vecchio Mondo.

Stellenbosch è conosciuta come il Regno del Cabernet e la miscela Grand Vin comprende Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot e Petit Verdot.

Quando l'abbiamo assaggiato per la prima volta in cantina, era più fruttato. Negli anni successivi si è evoluto per avere piacevoli note di caramello tostato con aromi di frutta cotta e tè nero. Il corpo rimane liscio ed elastico. Delizioso!

Ravines Wine Cellars Dazzles With Small Production Gems

Pioneering winemaker crafts European-style wines in the Finger Lakes.

Rock The Ravines

Ravines Wine Cellars was one of the first Finger Lakes wineries that captured our hearts. Setting out on a road trip from Ohio on the advice of neighbors we aimed for a wine destination we were told would perfectly suit our palates.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

In our salad days, the first wines we enjoyed were sweet white wines from Germany. For years we opted only for sweet Riesling wines and similar ilk. Perhaps it is inevitable, but as years came and went, our palates became drier and we became more discerning in our wine.

Riesling was set aside, because we believed it was only sweet (as opposed to the world’s most versatile white grape!). Then we learned of the Finger Lakes and their refreshingly dry style of Riesling. We packed up the car and headed for the promised land.

Keuka Lake was one of the first stops on that trip back in 2009 as we swept from west to east. It was there we were first introduced to Ravines, the passion of winemaker Morten Hallgren and his chef wife Lisa. The winery has since expanded to include not only the original tasting room on Keuka, but a production facility and tasting room on Seneca Lake near Geneva.

International Roots Run Deep

Morten is Danish by birth, and grew up on his parents’ winery in the French Côtes de Provence. While Lisa trained in the culinary arts, Morten gained a degree from one of France’s top winemaking school and went to work in Burgundy’s famed Medóc region.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

Wine positions in Texas and the Biltmore Winery in Asheville, NC, then led Morten to a chief winemaker position at Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars in the Finger Lakes. The job allowed the couple to see the potential for crafting premium cool-climate wines in the region. They purchased their original parcel of 17 acres of land on the steep eastern slop of Keuka between two ravines and began making wine. The holding has since expanded to 130 acres.

Morten describes his technique as transparent winemaking, striving to grow the best grapes possible while being good stewards of the land. Sustainable farming and organic methods are used in line with this philosophy.

A Taste Of Excellence

We were delighted to have the chance to taste three of Ravine’s current releases: 2017 Dry Riesling, 2018 Cabernet Franc, and the 2018 Maximilien red blend.

2017 Dry Riesling

We paired the Dry Riesling with teriyaki-glazed salmon steaks. The wine is an example of what makes Finger Lakes Riesling the best (in our opinion) in the United States.

The grapes come from the White Springs Vineyard and the 16 Falls Vineyard, one vineyard is on each side of Seneca Lake. The grapes were whole-cluster pressed and aged on light lees.

The wine has delicate flavors of juicy apple and citrus perfectly balanced with light acidity. It’s all bound together with flowing minerality. It’s a perfect food wine, as we discovered with our meal. At an SRP of $17.95, this is a great bargain. Ravines also has single vineyard Rieslings, and we love the Argetsinger Vineyard Riesling.

2018 Cabernet Franc

The standout red in the Finger Lakes is Cabernet Franc, which does particularly well in cool climates. This bottle was a delight from first drop to last.

I put on my chef’s apron to whip up Shrimp & Corn Cakes with Salsa for our pairing. Fainter souls might have opted for a white wine, but I know Cab Franc can be a melodious match with a wide range of entrees. My faith was justified.

The wine undergoes oak aging, but the accent is on balance and minerality. It's a beauty that rocks with juicy plum, strawberry, and herbal notes. The wine gets malolactic fermentation, which contributes to the soft and smooth texture. French and Slovenian/Austrian oak barrels were used. At $21.95, it’s an amazing value.

2017 Maximilien

One of my favorite reds during my first visit more than a decade ago was the Meritage. Red Meritage is the US equivalent of a Bordeaux blend and the use of the name is limited to a winery’s best red blend. I was disappointed to learn that Ravines no longer made Meritage – but I was soaring again when I learned that they had simply named their premium red blend Maximilien.

Maximilien is a 54% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon formulation. It opens with tart cherries and blackberries with a distinct savory note. Maximilien puts the focus on rich, expressive fruit. It gets 17 months in French and American oak, with 18% being new. There is a note of sweet oak and on the finish, there is an enjoyable toasted oak flavor.

This wine expresses the spirit of Finger Lakes red wine excellence. There is no need to mimic a bombastic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Instead, the terroir and fruit lead in another direction: red wines that are accessible, artistic, and true to the grapes. This is a red wine bonanza at $24.95.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.

Hand Of God 2012 Fingerprint Series White, Mendoza

Bored with ho-hum white wines? Try this white, touched by the “hand of God.”

The Winning Hand

Hand of God is a boutique winery from acclaimed Argentine winemaker Santiago Achával and Seattle Entrepreneur Jon Staenberg. They both share a passion for unique wines of premium quality and – we suspect – a love of soccer.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

Diego Maradona is the most famed soccer player from Argentina. In the 1986 World Cup, he scored a goal that undoubtedly should have been called a hand-ball. He ended up scoring both goals in a 2-1 win over England. He later said he scored the goal “a little with his head, and a little with the hand of God.”

I met Jon Staenberg a number of years ago at a Wine Bloggers Conference and was dazzled by his wines. So when I had a chance to purchase this Fingerprint White, a grabbed it.

Wine Pairing With Vegan Fondue

Perhaps we are throwbacks, but we love fondue. During the pandemic, having a fondue party is pretty much out of the question. Or is it. When our daughter and boyfriend came in for a visit, she decided to whip up some vegan fondue. We each had our own bowls, to avoid dipping in a communal swimming pool of cheese.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

In addition to the melted vegan cheese mixture (which tasted delightfully like Gruyere) we had air-fried potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, toasted rye bread, "sausage", and fruit. A side of warm lentil salad accompanied the meal.

I’m called upon to do quite a bit of food and wine pairing, but this is the first time I’ve had to come up with a wine for vegan fondue! Reviewing the wine collection, I decided on the beautiful bottle of 2012 Hand of God Fingerprint Series White Blend, Mendoza.

The wine first grabs you by the eyeball. It has a luxurious golden-tone.

It is a Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne blend. This isn’t listed on the bottle, because the Argentine government doesn’t yet recognize these varieties. So, this is a rare bottle indeed. The wine undergoes 10-month aging in seasoned oak.

Opening the bottle was a bit of a challenge. The cork wouldn't budge and then tore apart. To avoid serving chunks of cork, we used an aerator with a strainer to enjoy this robust white. I’m a fan of Rhone whites and this VRM wine displayed rustic flavors of peach, apple and oak. It’s a substantial, not whimpy, white wine. It’s available on the winery website for $35. This was truly a spectacular wine and game-winning meal.

Union Sacré 2017 Le Clandestin, Central Coast

Oh, we love bargains. Here’s one of our latest, and tastiest!

Super Blending

Blending succulent and smooth Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon isn’t a conventional move. It’s something you might find in an Italian Super Tuscan, but don’t expect to see stateside. That’s what initially attracted me to this bottle from Union Sacré.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

The winery is a partnership that joins friends from two different continents. Xavier Arnaudin is the winemaker, originally from France. Philip Muzzy is the “creative brain” who hails from Michigan.

The Secret Sauce

The wine is a limited production run with 748 cases made. The blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Sangiovese. The grapes come from the Santa Barbara Highlands and Pomar Junction vineyards.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

For me, the elevating element is the Sangiovese. The main grape in world-renowned Chianti, it adds a lush texture and rich cherry flavor to the wine. The flavors are rippling blackberry and blueberry awash in silky tannins. The aging regimen is 40% French oak for 10 months. That deft move adds a layer of interest without making the wine bulky and ponderous.

It’s a wonderful wine. What is also wonderful is the price.

This is one of my top QPR (quality price ratio) wines. It retails for $45, but I scored it for $19 on Invino. After tasting it, I immediately got online to purchase more. Alas, it was all sold out. Take heart. The Union Sacré website has several interesting wines, including a Le Clandestin Cabernet Franc.

Union Sacré scored a hit with their Cabernet Sauvignon-Sangiovese blend. Our advice is to seek out and stock up.

WIYG? We Answer The Age Old Question

WIYG? That’s a question we are often asked. Here’s a look at what's in our glass.

Vaughn Duffy 2018 Rosé, Mendocino County

We scored this rosé from Underground Cellar for $20. It is 100% Carignane and is whole-cluster pressed. That means more subtle, shifting layers of flavor than you’d expect from your typical rosé. Herbs and strawberry dance with a zippy finish.

Balgownie 2017 Black Label Cabernet Franc & Syrah, Bendigo Vineyard, Australia

This wine traveled back with us from Australia as a prize from a visit to Yarra Valley. Yarra is know for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. While visiting the winery, we were most impressed with this stylish take on Cabernet Franc and Syrah. We enjoyed it with Herbed Chicken from the grill with garlic mushroom couscous and butternut squash. Silky, savory, superb!

Elevation Cellars 2011 Monolith, Columbia Valley

Yes, of course we love Washington wine! We picked up this gem a couple years ago in Woodinville from Elevation Cellars. It’s 75% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest Merlot and a skootch of Malbec. Was the wine getting long in the tooth? Nope. We caught it just before the Monolith began to topple. There are flavors of earth and black fruit and a playfully long finish.

WIYG–What’s In Your Glass? Here’s What’s In Ours

WIYG? That’s a question we are often asked. Here’s a look at what we’re sipping.

Round Peak 2016 Petit Verdot, North Carolina

Petit Verdot is one of six permitted grapes in the famed red wines of France’s Bordeaux region. It’s rarely the featured star, instead being added into blends for additional body and deeper color. It’s special to find it as a single varietal bottling – so when we see it, we usually buy it.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

To celebrate North Carolina Wine Month (May), I picked up this bottle from a local shop. Round Peak is the first winery we visited in North Carolina. We were impressed with the scenery, great tasting room and a wide assortment of wines.

The body on the wine is on the light side of medium. True to the winery name, there is a nice rounded flavor. This is an enjoyable sipper with a tasty sour cherry flavor. SRP is $15.

Becker Vineyards 2013 Indian Summer, Texas

This is a limited production red blend from Becker, a leading Texas Hill Country winery. It’s a blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

Way past its ideal drinking window, there was a plasticky aroma when first opened. After a bit of decanting, the funk dissipated and it turned into a nice mid-bodied wine with delicate flavors of cedar, spice and cherries. We’d like to try another bottle – drinking within one to two years of release would be best.

Villa Bellangelo 2016 Cabernet Franc, Seneca Lake

The best red wine coming out of New York’s Finger Lakes region is undoubtedly Cabernet Franc. The grape thrives in the sometimes challenging climate of the area that prevents some red varieties from developing depth and intense flavors.

Villa Bellangelo is a premier winery destination on Seneca Lake. While they are known for a wide range of masterful Rieslings, this bottle shows they can produce superb reds as well. Surprisingly, this bottle sells for a mere $18.

This is a rich and flavorful wine with blueberry and raspberry notes. The tannins are gentle. There is a satisfying finish that coats the tongue

As you can see from this week’s wrap-up of wines, there are outstanding wines in your own neighborhood. Local wineries need your support now more than ever as they try to reemerge from the coronavirus lockdown which closed tasting rooms around the country.

La Petite Ferme 2013 The Verdict, Franschhoek

An anniversary dinner during COVID-19 lockdown? Here’s how we handled it.

A Milestone Event During A Crisis

Celebrating a milestone wedding anniversary and a coronavirus lockdown don’t go hand in hand. Normally we’d be jetting to Paris and eating at an exclusive restaurant while I shower my wife with expensive gifts. Hmm, not quite, but we certainly would go out to a nice eatery for dinner. We also had planned a tour through national parks in Utah for this timeframe. Even Dr. Anthony Fauci couldn’t save this year’s celebration, though.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

Although confined to our home, we had a balmy day -- just perfect for a romantic dinner on the patio. The Green Dragon, my lovely and talented wife, started preparations for a wonderful meal. For hours she worked singlehandedly in the kitchen on this culinary masterpiece.

Meanwhile, I did the really hard work. I grated several tablespoons of cheese and had the all-important assignment of picking the wine. To my credit, I did procure a very nice bouquet of roses and bought the very last anniversary card in the store.

A Menu To Savor

The menu was a masterpiece. The entree was pork tenderloin stuffed with spinach and mushrooms topped with a sherry cream sauce. Accompanying the meat was a perfectly crisped three-cheese potatoes gratin. For dessert, we enjoyed a beautiful vegan Berry Blackout cake with a chocolate strawberry sauce.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

The tablecloth was spread and the sun was shining as I uncorked our selected wine: The Verdict, 2013 vintage, from La Petite Ferme winery in Franschhoek, South Africa. We bought the wine during a tour of South African winelands five years ago.

After heading up winding mountain roads and navigating down a steep, narrow driveway, we came to La Petite Ferme. La Petite Ferme is a winery known not only for its wine but its fine cuisine. We were surprised to see we were the only car in the small parking lot.

We later learned that tastings were by appointment only. Graciously, the cellar manager agreed to do an informal tasting for us. What luck! The wines were inspired. We learned inside tales of making wine in South Africa, including how baboons would sneak down the hillsides to eat Chardonnay grapes. Apparently, they have refined taste.

And The Verdict Is…

There were many well-crafted wines, but we decided on The Verdict when Sonja, our host, told us this was a wine that can “take it all through the night.” We carried it back from South Africa (along with many more) in a checked bag.

The Verdict is a luscious blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is aged 17 months in oak. Five years of aging turned the wine into an even more amazing treat. The Cab Franc contributed spice and pepper to dark fruit and deep cherry flavors. It is soft and silky on the tongue. The wine is lively and vibrant, a testament to quality South African winemaking.

With meals like this, we just may make it through this crisis after all. Stay safe, everyone.

What’s In Your Glass? We Share Our Recent Wine Picks

WIYG? That’s a question we are often asked. Here’s a look at what we’re sipping.

Piccione 2014 Montepulciano, Swan Creek

This Montepulciano isn’t from the vineyards of Abruzzo, Italy, but from North Carolina. Piccione is a boutique winery that specializes in Italian grape varieties. During the COVID-19 lockdown, we participated in Open That Bottle of North Carolina Wine Night to salute the great wines from the Old North State and encourage you to “drink local.” This deeply colored wine has sturdy tannins and swirls of plum, black cherry and chocolate. An all-round winner at an SRP of $25.

Youngberg Hill 2015 Natasha Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley

Youngberg Hill’s Natasha vineyard block is named after the oldest daughter of the winemaker. We opened this during our last road trip before the pandemic hit – and had the chance to share it with our good friends the Cabernetor and Glorious T. This is Willamette Valley Pinot at its finest – luscious raspberry and black cherry combine with a riffle of spice in a savory and smooth wine. SRP of $50.

Mark Herold Wines 2008 Acha Red, California

This is a wine that I stumbled across in the cellar and said, “Hmm, didn’t realize I still had this!” I bought three bottles a number of years ago and drank one in 2014 and the last one six years later. What a difference a few years can make. This is a Tempranillo blend and back in 2014 the tannins were hard as nails and rugged. The last bottle had tannins that melted beautifully into an expressive wine rife with cherry, cedar and oak. It was luxurious on the palate and worth the wait. I paid $30 per bottle.

Boundary Breaks 2018 Riesling Dry #239, Finger Lakes

We picked this bottle up during our first visit to Boundary Breaks, a Finger Lakes winery winning national acclaim for its Riesling. The “239” refers to the clone number. This wine, uncorked during a virtual dinner party, has balanced fruit and acidity. There’s plenty of finesse with delightful lime notes and minerality. Residual sugar is just a whisper at 0.7%. SRP is $22.95.

Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour 2016 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Our friend the Cabernetor didn’t earn his nickname by chance. He loves his big, bold Napa Cabs.  This bottle was uncorked for his landmark birthday dinner. It’s an expressive and impressive wine. The fruit comes from the famed Rutherford AVA in Napa and the resulting wine is rich and full-bodied. It’s a juicy wine bursting with blueberries and blackberries with a thin edge of spice. Graceful vanilla and toast notes highlight the long finish. A true jewel from Napa Valley! SRP is $145.

Yatir Winery Offers Pair Of Premium Judean Hills Releases

The Yatir region of Israel boasts a winemaking tradition more than 2,500 years old. It’s the site of one of the country’s largest forests – and some very good premium wine.

More Wine!

Israel is an ancient land steeped in history that has seen the rise and fall of civilizations. More than 50 years ago an ink-scribed pottery shard was discovered in Tel Arad. The artifact dates to 600 BC.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

It was only recently that a new method, multispectral imaging, enabled unseen characters on the potter shard to be deciphered. What important message was discovered? A request for more wine! We agree with that sentiment, especially if it is like these two bottles.

Yatir Winery, recognized by the bold red lion gracing its labels, was founded in 2000. The Yatir region has been known as one of the finest for growing grapevines for more than 2,000 years with wine being exported to Egypt, Rome and across Israel.

The Yatir region is also known for Yatir Forest, planted at the urging of David Ben-Gurion, the primary national founder of Israel. Yatir Winery has three ranges of wine, the top being Yatir Forest.

The Red Lion Roars

We recently uncorked a red and white from Yatir Winery, the 2016 Yatir Creek and the 2017 Mt. Amasa White, both from the Judean Hills. The occasion was a wine tasting in Raleigh which featured a bottle share – each attendee brought a bottle or two to sample.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

The pair of Yatir bottles created a stir. It’s not every day you get to sample Israeli wine – especially from a critically-acclaimed boutique winery that has gotten a lion’s share of international recognition.

The Mt. Amasa White is a blend of 52% Viognier, 33% Chenin Blanc and 15% Roussanne. The wine is fermented and matured for five months in a combination of concrete amphorae, 500 liter oak barrels and stainless steel vats. In the glass the wine is gold with a greenish hue.

This is a medium-bodied wine with notes of peach, pear and melon. The acidity doesn’t overpower and instead contributes to a refreshing finish that has you reaching for another glass. The unique aging regimen gives this a distinctly Rhone Valley feel – although Chenin Blanc is a Loire Valley grape. A nice bottle at $27.

Yatir Creek is a red that is a step up in quality. The blend is 76% Syrah, 12% Tannat and 12% Malbec. This is a sophisticated wine that is a joy from the first sip. It’s deep purple in color and the aroma of black fruit draw you in magnetically. On the palate black cherry and currant flavors are knit together with solid tannins. Appreciation grows as the wine opens up in the glass.

Kudos must be given to Yatir Winery for their experimentation with different aging techniques. Although winemaking in Israel dates back thousands of years, the current industry is quite young. For the Yatir Creek, aging was done for a year in oak foudres (100-liter casks). The wine gets two years of bottle aging before release. Using the larger barrels avoids oak overkill which would mask the rich fruit.

The Yatir Creek would be ideal to pair with a hearty casserole or juicy steak. SRP is $50. Both wines are Kosher.

Full Disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.

What’s In Your Glass? Here’s A Look At What We’re Drinking Now

WIYG? That’s a question we are often asked. Here’s a look at what we’re sipping.

Rabbit Ridge 2014 Allure de Robles, Paso Robles

This Rhone-style blend from Paso Robles is primarily Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre with some other unspecified varieties as well. I picked this up for $12.99 and it outperforms at this price.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

Much deeper in essence than you might expect, with a woodsy flavor and strawberry notes. The wine is barrel-aged, and there is a nice touch of vanilla and oak.

Schöne Tal Cellars 2016 Pinot Noir, Meredith Mitchell Vineyard, McMinnville

This single vineyard Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley is a sensational wine. Priced at $50, it comes from a biodynamic site.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

Minimal intervention and natural fermentation are used. The wine is balanced  featuring gorgeous raspberry flavors stitched together with rustic herbal notes. Our first taste from this winery and it won’t be our last.

Skinner Vineyards Smithereens 2016 Red Blend, El Dorado

Smithereens refers to the blasting used in mines to reach gold deposits. The El Dorado region of California is gold country, and we struck paydirt with this wine.

A blend of 51% Grenache, 31% Mourvèdre, 12% Syrah and 5% Counoise, this is a ripe and delicious wine that I purchased online. It was a steal at $12.99 as it retails for more than $20. The wine has spice notes and rumbling dark cherry and cranberry. A lilting minerality keeps it juicy. A surprisingly great purchase.

Stoller 2017 Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills

One of our favorite Willamette Valley wineries, I rarely see Stoller on the wine shop shelves. When I did, I grabbed this bottle for $25. If you can’t visit their winery, the next best thing is uncorking Stoller along with a delicious meal.

This is Stoller’s entry level Pinot Noir, but terming it thus does it injustice. This is a very good Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. It is highlighted with bright red fruit and a taste of cola. Great balance and silky tannins make this an ideal wine for your salmon or pork entree. Aging is primarily in neutral French oak, ensuring that this is a very nuanced wine. While the reserve level Stoller wines will launch you into the stratosphere, this bottle will give you  nice ride up into the clouds.

Technorati Tags: Red wine,wine,Pinot Noir,Oregon wine,California wine,Paso Robles,El Dorado

North Carolina Wines Highlighted During National Tasting Event

NC Wine Country – Almost Heaven

John Denver had a different state in mind when he sang “almost heaven.” While that’s true, wine lovers in North Carolina feel they have a slice of heaven considering  the abundance of great wineries and wine in the state.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

North Carolina has more than 400 vineyards and 200 wineries that spread from the eastern coastal region to the mountains in the west. Wineries include well-known names, like the Biltmore Winery -- the most visited winery in the US -- to lesser known names like Fern Crest Winery in Andrews. The wines are surprisingly good, with a style to please any palate.

September is North Carolina wine month and wine writers in the state and around the country recently participated in an online tasting event highlighting wines from the Old North State. The event was hosted by Joe Brock and Matt Kemberling, also known as the NC Wine Guys.

Eleven wineries took part in the chat by providing samples. We had the opportunity to taste the 2015 GPS from Junius Lindsay Vineyard and the Guilty Red Blend from Windsor Run Cellars.

Grape-To-Glass Winemaking

Windsor Run Cellars is a grape-to-glass estate winery in Hamptonville. It's a popular stop on the Swan Creek Wine Trail. Although capturing awards for their estate-grown red and white wines, the offerings are seemingly boundless, with fortified wines, mead, and a distillery that produces 80 to 90 proof spirits.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

The non-vintage Guilty, which retails for $20,  combines Chambourcin and Cabernet Sauvignon into a dry red blend. Chambourcin is a French Hybrid grape that’s become a favorite of ours.

Partnering with Cabernet elevates the wine, which pops with flowing raspberry flavors wrapped in smoky notes. Do we like it? “Guilty” as charged!

I wasn’t familiar with Junius Lindsay Vineyard before our tasting. JLV is located in Lexington, which humbly calls itself the Barbecue Capital of the World. The winery is owned by Michael Zimmerman, who named the vineyard after his grandfather, who started the family farm in 1894.

JLV is unique for their focus on Rhone grape varieties. These grapes are not a focus in North Carolina, in fact, Junius Lindsay is one of only two growers of Grenache in the state and is the only winery that produces a single varietal bottling.

The 2015 GPS is a blend of Grenache, Petite Sirah, and Syrah from the Yadkin Valley AVA. The structure of this wine is impressive, with fine-grained tannins. Grenache has the lead in this blend and the cherry notes come through. There is a bit of spice on the end to lend complexity. This is a great wine to discover and one of the best wines I’ve tasted in North Carolina.

September is North Carolina Wine Month, so there is no better time to seek out, sip and savor NC wine.

Full disclosure: These wines were provided as marketing samples.

Technorati Tags: North Carolina wine,Yadkin Valley,Swan Creek,Grenache,wine,winetasting