Wine Tasting 16

Tenuta Rapitala Campo Reale 

Name: Campo Reale 

Variety: Nero D'Avola

Region: Sicily

Country: Italy

Year: 2016

Price: $7.95

Yankee Spirit's Review: This early-drinking Nero d'Avola opens with ripe black-skinned fruit, tilled soil and cooking spice aromas. Straightforward and savory, it delivers black cherry, blackberry and ground pepper flavors alongside round tannins.

My Review: This wine had a very strong sent. I detected an overwhelming amount of tannins and, therefore, expected this wine to be pretty heavy. The wine gave off some aromas of really dark fruits like cherry and red and black currant. I also got a good hint of some spices. When I tasted the wine I was super surprised at how smokey the flavor was. There was some spice, but it was full of tannins which gave it a pretty heavy mouth-feel and medium finish. I did not have this wine paired with food.

Wine Tasting 15

Four Sisters

Name: Four Sisters

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion

Region: Central Victoria

Country: Australia

Year: 2013

Price: $4.95

Yankee Spirit's Review: Vibrant passionfruit, gooseberry and lemon citrus flavours shine through on the nose and palate with a fresh, crisp finish. A fantastic match with a fresh shellfish, sushi or smoked salmon.

My Review: I was not a huge fan of this wine. The aromas I recognized consisted of grass and weeds. Personally, I was reminded of dandelion. When I tasted the wine, its pronounced qualities were fresh cut grass and an initial citrus fruit flavor. However, something was off-putting about this wine. As I focused on the flavors more, I recognized somewhat of a fishy taste, like salmon. These flavors were very conflicting on my pallet, and I do not have much of a desire to try this wine again. Perhaps it would taste better paired with seafood, but alone, it was not great. 

Wine Tasting 14

La Mascaronne Vita Bella

Name: Vita Bella

Variety: Rolle, Ugni Blanc

Region: Cotes De Provence

Country: France

Year: 2015

Price: $8.95

La Mascaronne Review: Expressive nose of white flowers and apricot with full bodied taste and ripe fruit finish

My Review: This wine replaced the initial first-wine of the tasting. Apparently the Vintage Cellar sold out of the first wine! The wine's strong floral aroma was very clear. I immediately recognized floral notes like honey suckle. When I tasted the wine, I was surprised by how dry it was. However, it also tasted a little "watered down" which  usually lets me know that I am recognizing flavors like pear or peach. I was also able to pick up on some lemon. It was a decent white wine, relatively light in body but well rounded with a medium finish. I did not have this wine paired with food, but it was a nice, fresh tasting wine that I would probably have again.

Wine Tasting 13

California Roots Cabernet

Name: California Roots Cabernet

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2017

Price: $5

Target Review: Target did not offer a review of this wine.

My Review: When picking a lone wine, I would normally gravitate towards a Cabernet Sauvignon. At such a great price, I was excited to try this wine. After swirling this wine, I recognized scents of dark berries like cherries, blackberries, and black current. I was expecting a bold big red, however, the wine smelled sweet with a bit of a peppery undertone; not as heavy as I would have expected. When I tasted the wine, I was disappointed. I was seriously underwhelmed by the weight and flavor of the wine. There were not a lot of detectable tannins. Instead, most of the "flavor" came from the alcohol. It was not nearly as full bodied as I was hoping. I did not pair this wine with food, but I do not think it would support the food reds are stereotypically designed for. I would prefer to choose a bigger red than this one if given the choice.

Wine Tasting 12

Bay Bridge Merlot

Name: Bay Bridge Merlot

Variety: Merlot

Region: Central Valley

Country: USA

Year: 2016

Price: $6.25

Target Review: Target did not offer a review of this wine.

My Review: I was not a huge fan of this wine. I cannot think of any of the very few Merlots I have tried that I really enjoyed though. This was a very basic wine, not much mouthfeel, not much of a finish either. Its initial aromas consisted of berries. I got a mixture of some blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, maybe pomegranate. However, there wasn't much besides that. It was a pretty smooth wine, not very bitter or tart, but not particularly sweet either. Flavors were somewhat jammy. I did not pair this wine with food. Perhaps it would have been better with food so its flavors could have been accentuated. It was not a "bad" wine per-say, just a basic, easy to drink wine.

Wine Tasting 11

19 Crimes Pinot Noir

Name: 19 Crimes The Punishment

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: Australia

Country: Australia

Year: 2017

Price: $10.99

Target's Review: Target did not provide a review of this wine.

My Review: I actually really enjoyed this wine. My boyfriend got the bottle for me as a surprise with dinner because I love watching crime documentaries and he thought it would be funny. It was pretty cool because there is an app that allows you to watch the criminal talk on the actual wine bottle through your phone. Anyhow, the wine itself was a deep red leading me to believe it was going to be quite dry. The aromas I detected consisted of cherry and red current. I also got a hint of vanilla leading me to believe that this wine had been aged in oak. When I tasted the wine, my idea that the red had been aged in oak was reinforced by the creamy mouthfeel of the well-bodied wine. I recognized the flavors of cherry coming through as well as some spice. The wine also had a decently long finish. I had this wine paired with salmon and broccoli for dinner. I am not sure if I would recommend this pairing. The wine was still relatively dry which helped balance the fattiness of the salmon. However, both the fish and the wine were pretty heavy which made it a very "large" meal.

Kroger Tasting 10

Embrazen Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Embrazen

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2016

Price: $4.99

Kroger's Review: Concentrated flavors of blackberry and cherry persist on the palate, that leaves a lasting impression. Blend: 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 4% Petite Sirah, 1% Malbec.

My Review: I wanted to end my tasting with a red wine. When I first smelled this wine, I was able to pick up of hints of dark berry fruits. Fruits such as cherry, red currant, and blackberry came to my attention. I also picked up on some peppery aromas. When I went to taste this wine, I realized it was a much drier red than I had anticipated. This wine had a little bit of spice to it and a very long finish compared to the other wines I had tasted. Though it was dry, its heavy mouthfeel made me think that it might have been aged, perhaps in oak, for at least a little bit. I did not have this wine paired with food, but I think it would have been nice with a creamier dish, like a chicken alfredo. 

Kroger Tasting 9

Zuccardi Torrontes

Name: Zuccardi Torrontes

Variety: Torrontes

Region: Zuccardi

Country: Argentina

Year: 2017

Price: $4.99

Kroger's Review: Enticing aromas with hints of white flowers, pears, oranges and passion fruit. 91 points Robert Parker.

My Review: As you may be able to tell, I really pushed myself to try a lot of white wines during this tasting. I would normally steer away from whites, as I used to think they would be on the sweet side. However, through the lectures, I have been learning a lot more about the acidic components of drier white wines. That was super appealing to hear since I also love seafood and feel like white wines are a super great option for seafood. This wine gave off initial aromas of flowers and citrus fruits. I had never tried the Torrontes grape, but it was very light and had a very short finish. It was not buttery, nor gave off any impressions that it had been aged in oak. I had not paired it with any food, but it might have gone nicely with a summer/citrus salad.

Kroger Tasting 8

Chateau Morrisette Sweet Mountain Apple

Name: Sweet Mountain Apple

Variety: "Other White"

Region: Virginia

Country: USA

Year: N/A

Price: $3.99

Kroger's Review: Made from crisp and juicy Virginia apples. Bursting with the vibrant fruitiness of just-picked apples, this wine is sweet and smooth, light bodied, with a clean crisp finish.

My Review: When I first received this wine, I was immediately reminded of apple juice. The sole aromas I picked up on were apples. No flowers, no citrus, no vanilla, just apples. When I tasted the wine, I was again hit by the flavor of apples. Thankfully, I have always been a big fan of apple juice and apples in general, so this was somewhat appealing to me. Unfortunately, I cannot see myself drinking this again as a wine. I cannot imagine what food this wine would pair well with. At first I joking mentioned apple pie, but that would be just way too much. The wine had a very light crisp mouth feel and a very short finish. It is definitely not a bad wine, especially if you like apples, but perhaps drinking it alone is how it is meant to be enjoyed.

Kroger Tasting 7

Schmitt Sohne Relax Riesling

Name: Relax

Variety: Riesling

Region: Rheingau

Country: Germany

Year: N/A

Price: $3.99

Kroger's Review: Forward fruit and floral aromas of apples and peaches with just a hint of citrus, the wine's natural acidity gives it a perfect balance that is refreshingly crisp and leaves your mouth watering.

My Review: When I tried to get a sense of this wine's aromas, I was met with scents of flowers like honeysuckle. I was also reminded of fruits like apples and pears. Normally I am a much bigger fan of rieslings when it comes to white wines. This is due to there more common higher acidity. This wine met my expectations as it was quite acidic and had a very light mouthfeel. It had a tendency to tingle the sides of the tongue. It was not my favorite, but I would probably try this wine again. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I had had a whole glass, or paired it with food.

Kroger Tasting 6

Belcreme De Lys Chardonnay

Name: Creme De Lys

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: 2016

Price: $4.99

Kroger's Review: Flavors of tropical fruit, baked apple and citrus. Aged nine months, primarily on French oak, adds hints of vanilla and creme brulee on the finish.

My Review: I tried to refrain from looking at Kroger's list of wines until after I had taken my notes on the one's I tasted. When I first receive this wine, its aroma reminded of citrus fruits. I was already under the impression that, as a chardonnay, this wine would be a little more buttery in texture and have a more body than most whites. This tends to be an appealing quality of chardonnays to me. When I tasted it, I was able to get much more of the "baked apple" taste. The wine was a little sweet but the baked apple flavor went smoothly with the buttery feel of the wine. This wine was nothing unexpected as the name "belcreme" led me to think it was going to be a relatively sweet and "creamy" wine! The creme brulee flavor definitely made sense when I read the wine had been aged in oak. It was not paired with food, but I don't think I would try this wine again if I was given other options.

Wine Pairing at Local Roots

Riesling, Seaglass

Name: Seaglass

Variety: Riesling

Region: Central Coast, California

Country: USA

Year: 2017

Price: $30

Local Roots' Review: Roanoke's Local Roots did not offer a review of the wine, only the information of the wine listed above.

My Review: I loved this wine! I wish I had gotten a bottle to take home with me. I paired this wine with my meal, the VA Little Neck Clam Pasta. This dish consisted of LR pappardelle, smoked pork loin, fennel, celery root, lemon, and clams. I knew this was going to be a relatively strong dish due to the fennel, as well as the two proteins- pork and clams. When looking at wines, I wanted to try a drier white. I wanted something that was going to be a little lighter, but also drier and more acidic to balance the heaviness and creaminess of the pasta dish. I also knew I liked rieslings when given opportunity to drink white wines. This wine complimented my dinner wonderfully. I would definitely go back and get this again.

Vintage Cellar Tasting 5

Fratelli

Name: Fratelli Blaze

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir

Region: Ukraine

Country: Ukraine

Year: 2015

Price: $15

Cellar's Review: The Vintage Cellar did not offer a review of the wine, only the information of the wine listed above.

My Review: I have never had much expectations for Rose's. Normally they are too sweet for my liking. However, I did learn through a lecture they can be very dry as well. When I smelled this wine I recognized berries like blueberries and raspberries. It smelled overwhelmingly fruity. I then tasted the wine and it's sweetness matched the intense fruity aroma. I could tell it was left with a lot of residual sugars and was more of a sparkled wine. This wine was not paired with food. Perhaps it would have been better with food, but I was not a fan.

Vintage Cellar Tasting 4

Eikeboom

Name: Eikeboom Pinotage

Variety: Pinotage

Region: Western Cape

Country: South Africa

Year: 2015

Price: $17

Cellar's Review: The Vintage Cellar did not offer a review of the wine, only the information of the wine listed above.

My Review: This wine was much darker than the others. This led me to the idea that the wine would have more tannins and present a much deeper, more full-bodied taste. The wine's aroma consisted of darker berries, like cherry and maybe some red currents. I also smelled some earth flavors I expected to come out during the tasting. When tasting the wine, I was reminded of these dark berries, but also spices. It felt slightly heavier and had a more buttery, oaky flavor. This wine was not paired with food. I did not really like it and do not think I would try it again.

Vintage Cellar Tasting 3

Jekel

Name: Jekel Pinot Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: Monterey, California

Country: USA

Year: 2015

Price: $30

Cellar's Review: The Vintage Cellar did not offer a review of the wine, only the information of the wine listed above.

My Review: I was very excited to tasted this wine because my grandmother lives in Monterey, California. The aromas I got from this red wine consisted of cherries and spices. These scents, and the fact that it was a red wine, gave me the feeling this was going to be a relatively rich and well bodied wine. This wine tasted more bitter but also left somewhat of a buttery taste. This gave me the impression it was aged in oak. It had a spicy and long finish. I did not have this wine paired with food, but overall it was relatively enjoyable.

Vintage Cellar Tasting 2

Ch des Arnauds

Name: Les Caprices d' Anais Bordeaux Rose

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Region: Bordeaux

Country: France

Year: 2017

Price: $13

Cellar's Review: The Vintage Cellar did not offer a review of the wine, only the information of the wine listed above.

My Review: This Rose had an even stronger aroma of flowers than the Cantina Villafranca I tried earlier. I also got hints of berries such as strawberries; perhaps, because this was a rose? It was slightly more acidic and dry which I could appreciate more than the typically sweet lighter wines. This rose also had some body to it, most likely resulting from tannins present. I would try this wine again, but I would prefer to pair it with some food!

Vintage Cellar Tasting

Cantina Villafranca

Name: Cantina Villafranca Frascati

Variety: Malvasia di Candia, Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia del Lazio, Grechetto

Region: Lazio

Country: Italy

Year: 2016

Price: $10

Cellar's Review: The Vintage Cellar did not offer a review of the wine, only the information of the wine listed above.

My Review: When I initially tried to recognize this wine's aroma, I was hit with the scent of flowers and citrus. To me, the wine reminded me of peach or melon and gave me the idea that it would taste very sweet. When I tasted the wine, the flavors met my expectations. The wine tasted somewhat watered down, but reminded me strongly of melon and honeysuckle. It was not dry, but lightly sweet, with a short finish. I was unable to taste it with food! Overall, though I am not a white wine person to begin with, but I was not too intrigued by this wine and would probably not try it again. 

My first experience with wine was many years ago when my parents first let me take a sip some from theirs. Myself, thinking I was going to be trying something "grown up;" my parents, entirely amused as they waited for the disgusted face I made immediately after. Though this was an isolated event, and I definitely do not condone underage drinking, when I later became of age I too became a fan of wine. I think I mimicked my mother in my instant preference for red wine. Still, wine is not something I routinely drink. Until recently, my selections usually revolved around the cheapest bottle I could find at Kroger, rather than something I would have previously imagined to pair nicely with a meal. However, when I took the course Winery Tourism last semester, and began actually studying and properly tasting wine, my appreciation for the drink grew.

Through Winery Tourism, I was able to learn the basic in's and out's of the massive industry that is wine-making. I was also able to learn the different types of grapes that go into the corresponding white, red, and even sparkling wines. I studied the geographical impact of wine and how the cultural approach to making and presenting wines varies around the world. After taking this class I was able to reinforce my appreciation for red wine. I learned I preferred more robust wines with more tannins. I will also enjoy a good white wine if it is on the drier side. Through arranged tastings, I was able to explore even more wines. Some of which I enjoyed much more than others, yet was able to understand the pairing behind wine and food and how specific qualities in wine compliment the flavors and textures of foods.

Through this Geography of Wine course, I hope to gain even more knowledge on wine. I took World Regions a couple of years ago and really enjoyed the style of teaching provided. I believe this course will help me dive deeper into my wine pairing and tasting ability as this class requires much more tastings than my previous class. Though I became relatively capable of identifying wines through blind tastings, I really hope this class helps me do a better job as it would take a while for me to recognize aromas and flavors. I am looking forward to this course and growing out of the "for sale" selection of Kroger wines.