Tasting - Villa Alena Moscato D'Asti

Name: Villa Alena Moscato D'Asti

Variety: Moscato

Region: Piemonte

Country: Italy

Vintage: 2022

Price: $8.99

Winery Review

"Who doesn't love an Asti during the holiday season? Enjoyable sweet bubbly with flavors of pear, green apple, and a hint of citrus. A bit sticky, but not all bad! Cheers!"

-Chad D from Vivino

Wine Folly

The book describes this wine as a having the following flavor notes: orange blossom, pear, honeysuckle, lemon, and mandarin orange (page 138). Because this bottle was so sweet, I feel like the collection of fruit and sugars is immensely accurate to this bottle. Juicy pears, green apple, and honeysuckle were all present and loud when sampling this bottle.

My Review

I drank this wine along with that blue Spanish wine I had last week. It's funny having these two wines together, because they both had very similar flavor palates. Very sweet and fizzy, perfect to have on a warm picnic day. 

I felt like this wine was simple, but sometimes simple is what we need. After all, I was unable to detect anything on the nose. In fact, while I was doing the classic sniff and swirl, I felt like I was sniffing water. Initially, green apple and pears were the most intense aspect of this flavor profile; however, the taste was not really intense. In fact, the finish was barely present. After swallowing, you are not able to remember how the wine felt on your tongue. Everything about it will get immediately swept away. Because of how sweet and simple it was, I felt like I was a kid drinking apple juice after recess. Perfectly fine for a warm summer day, but otherwise there are better bubbly, sweet wines I would have rather had.

Tasting - Teroldego Rotaliano Competizione Limited Edition

Name: Teroldego Rotaliano Competizione Limited Edition

Variety: Teroldego Rotaliano

Region: Trentino

Country: Italy

Vintage: 2015

Price: $19.95

Winery Review

"Smooth with hints of leather and black pepper. A lingering finish with a slight tendon. Exotic Spice!" 

-Mike S from Vivino

Wine Folly

Unfortunately, there were no mentions of Teroldego in Wine Folly. I could find, however, a description of the Northeast region of Trentino: "The regions of Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia have cooler climates and the warmer areas are influenced by the Adriatic Sea. Reds offer more fruit (although still elegant) and the best white wines are found in the hills, such as the Soave grape, Garganega" (Page 248). Unfortunately, I feel like this description is not descriptive enough to give a sufficient analysis of this wine. This wine did not feel like it was packed with fruits, nor was it elegant. It felt hard, punchy, and smokey.

My Review

When I bought this bottle from the Vintage Cellar, the employee pointed this specific bottle out for me. Not because it was the best tasting Teroldego in the world, but because it was the only bottle of that variety in the store. Although he also gave me a discount for being a fellow waitress, I did not particularly enjoy this bottle. It didn't help that this was a magnum, so the bottle felt like it was never going to end. 

The flavor of this wine felt burnt and smokey. Not in a good, complex red wine type of way, but in a way where it bogged down on the palate. It felt harsh, and young, even though the Vintage was from 2015. It was almost 8 years old, yet it felt still way too young and bold to be enjoyable. It felt harsh, as if I was drinking sandpaper. It made me tongue salivate, yearning for something to alleviate it. Likewise, it was acidic and dry. I was unable to really pick out any noticeable fruit flavors- despite what Wine Folly had mentioned- other than a smokey blackberry. 

Because it was a magnum, my partner and I were unable to finish it in a single day. As the bottle got older, it felt like it was getting slightly better as air was introduced into the beverage. The flavors felt more muddled and weak, making it was easier to chew and swallow. Overall, I would not recommend this wine.

Wine and Cheese Pairing- Blacksburg Wine Lab

After getting my heart broken, I decided to drown my feelings into wine. Why not, after all. Wine is better enjoyed amongst people, but sometimes it can be just as enjoyable alone. I went to the wine lab in Blacksburg to experience their well renowned, wine and cheese flight.

 

The first pairing was a Zardetto Prossecco with a smoked gouda. Unfortunately the spreadable gouda was sold out at the time of my visit. The pairing, despite being different, was still successful in my opinion. The wine was bubbly, crisp, and acidic. Like most dry prosecco, my palate felt lifted and refreshed. It was a great start to my dining experience. 

The gouda, meanwhile, was just as light and refreshing on the palate. The pairing together proved to be a pleasant, experience, as the two mild yet easy on the tongue was an easy prelude to more complex pairings for the later experience. 

Name: Zardetto Prosecco

Variety: Glera

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Vintage: 2022

The next pairing was a Stemmari Nero'd Avola with a Manchego cheese. The cheese was surprisingly buttery, fatty, and soft on the palate. I loved the flavor, but it wasn't necessarily the most intense or sharp flavor I have had to experience. The wine, however, proved to be intense, bold piece. On the nose, the wine reminded me of a melody of raspberries and blackberries. Although bold and full bodied, I didn't find this to be too dry of a wine. In fact, I would even argue that it was primarily sweet. At the very least, I would call it semi-sweet. I felt like the sweetness and full body allowed for a more rich, bold flavor to be expressed in the Manchego cheese. Compared to the first part of the flight, I felt like these two pairings brought out secret flavors instead of merely being in balance with each other.

 

Name: Zardetto Prosecco

Variety: Nero d'Avola

Region: Sicilia

Country: Italy

Vintage: 2019

The final pairing was a Palacio Cabernet Sauvignon with a Cheddar. Now this wine proved to be the most bold and dry beverage of the night. It was full bodied, with this distinct dark cherry finish that punches at the back of the throat. Although bold and rich in tannic quality, I felt like it was still somewhat off dry. Don't get me wrong, it was primarily dry, but I felt like that cherry finish allowed for a sweetness to put these characteristics into balance. The cheddar, meanwhile, was just as bold and sharp, with a somewhat tangy finish to it. When put into balance, I felt like the two were able to keep these pretty bold and brash characteristics into check. Although I'm not saying a complexity was lost, I am saying that by mellowing each other out, I felt like the flavor profile made it easier on the palate. Especially since I was not necessarily eating a complex dish, the two made each other digestible on a clean palate.

Name: Palacio Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Castilla y Leon

Country: Spain

Vintage: 2017

Overall, I felt like this exercise was an interesting study on how two things can really influence how the other speaks to the taste buds. While some pairings have a more parallel relationship- like the first pairing- and others mellow the other out, it's interesting how wine truly changes based on what it is in harmony with. I hope to continue this study throughout my life, finding good or bad pairings based upon my own creative experiments. Hopefully, however, I won't have to do this journey alone. 

Tasting - Principe Verdejo Frizzante

Name: Principe Verdejo Frizzanted

Variety: Verdejo 

Region: Castilla y Leon

Country: Spain

Vintage: 2022

Price: $8.99

Winery Review

"Minerals on the nose. Quite sweet, reminds me of a California Riesling. There's a hint of effervescence. This is my first blue wine." 

-Warren Lapine from Vivino

Wine Folly

The way the book describes this grape is quite interesting. I feel like the main descriptors are not very conducive with this specific bottle. The author states, "With high acidity and a subtle bitterness, Verdejo makes a great food wine and palate cleanser" (page 181). Bitter is quite possibly the last thing I would say to describe this wine, as this is the sweetest thing I have ever drank. Sweeter than koolaid honestly! Minerally, however, seems to be fairly accurate. Although not at the forefront of this flavor profile, I would not disagree with this overall descriptor. 

My Review

I had this wine for the first time when I had an interview with an architecture firm. We had a good laugh about the color of this wine, but I had to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by it. I definitely expected this to be one of the sweetest wines I have ever had, and that remains to be one of the most accurate assessments I have ever had. (Sometimes you have to judge books by their cover.) On the nose, I am unable to detect anything really. It's almost like Quite sad, because the flavor is pretty intense. Mostly in the sweet department, otherwise the flavor profile is quite elementary. It truly tastes like blue raspberries and sour patch kids without the sour dust. Hints of apple plague the initial tasting, but the sweetness really overpowers the palate. I can tell this wine can be quite divisive. I almost wonder if the reason it's carried is to be some sort of practical joke on the patron. Maybe the fact I bought it makes me less of a scholar of wine. Granted, I was never a scholar. Just an idiot college student with an interest. 

Although that sounds like an extremely mean thing to say, we need simple in our lives. Sometimes simple grants us comfort in our darkest moments. That's what this wine is to me. A simple, sweet, bright blue brew that makes me feel better in these moments of sadness. I enjoyed this bottle with my good friends at a picnic, and I wouldn't trade this moment for the world. 

 

Tasting- Broadbent Vinho Verde

Name: Broadbent Vinho Verde

Variety: Arinto - Loureiro/Trajadura/Pederna

Region: Vinho Verde

Country: Portugal

Vintage: 2022

Price: $10.99

Winery Review

" I haven't had too many Vinho Verdes (I'm more of a red drinker anyway), but this was great and refreshing for a summer day! It was quite limey, but  in a crisp and tangy way that made it a very enjoyable wine." 

- Merrile from Drizly

Wine Folly

As stated last week, Wine Folly's information about Vinho Verde is lacking. It merely states,. "A regional wine blend from Portuhal offered in white, rose and red styles. The most popular style is a low-alcohol, fruity wine with a touch of spritz" (page 184). I didn't really find that this wine was spritzy, which I found to be immensely disappointing. I was searching for a nice, crisp, bubbly wine. Although I got crisp, the lack of carbonation was devestating. 

My Review

After trying this vineyard's rose, I felt like trying the main attraction was appropriate. Although I think I prefer the rose, I still feel like this was an enjoyable, rich experience that I would recommend to anyone that enjoys crisp, acidic wines that light up the palate. 

Unlike the rose, this was not as carbonated and fizzy. This was honestly a disappointment, but it was a lot more carbonated that some of the other wines I have tried this semester. This bottle reminded me of drinking fresh, dry, semi-sweet apple juice. It went down extremely easy, but it's body was a lot more full and robust than I expected. It was as if I had this crisp, appley velvet in my mouth. Although not the sweetest wine I've had- as it is balanced by the high acidity- I found that the fruity, floral nature of this wine to bring some sweetness to its flavor profile.  I think a lot of the acidity that my sense pick up is coming from small hints of lemon and lime. 

I feel like because of this, the bottle would be a perfect pairing for a mixed green salad or a pan seared fish. Although I drank this by itself, I would probably pair this with food to make the wine feel more layered and complex. My mouth physically salivated, proving to me that my mouth was in desperate need for food. 

Dinner Blog- Guacho Brazilian Grille

After a hard day of work at, I felt like I was allowed to get drunk during my closing side work activities. As the head bartender, sometimes making a bunch of insane drinks is a lot of work and I feel especially drained after a shift. I bought myself a wine flight at Guacho Brazilian Grille, a small three course meal, and enjoyed my wine pairing with my fellow coworkers. The following is a blog of my experiences with different wines and some of the best food in Blacksburg. 

Coworkers and I enjoying Wine and Dinner After a Shift

Course 1: Dados de Tapioca with Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc

My appetizer consisted of cheesy, crunchy tapioca tots with a side of a smokey, chipotle sauce. It is my absolute favorite appetized at Guachos, and I couldn't wait to pair it with one of the wines that we offered. I opted for a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, because I felt like the mozzarella and parmesan within the goey tapioca pearls would pair perfectly. This bottle is typically acidic, light bodied, with bold notes of gooseberry and cat piss. It's fairly dry, but it is a popular choice among customers. However, I feel like because I had a more tomato based, spicy sauce on top of the appetizer, I should have paired it with a bolder red. 

Name: Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Marlborough

Country: New Zealand

Vintage: 2022

The pairing, however, was actually quite pleasant. I felt like the more acidic, tart nature of the wine really lit up the spicy sauce. The cheese perfectly melted into the wine, really enhancing the buttery, savory nature of the tapioca dice. A red, however, I felt would have made the sauce more tantelizing and complex. My coworker, after I exclaimed my excitiment for the pairing, sort of laughed at me. When I gave him a piece to try, he told me I was crazy. Interesting different palates operate. I felt like the dry, lightness to the wine brought out complexity in an already dense sauce. My coworker, however, thought the wine drowned out the forte sauce, neutralizing its characteristic smokiness. 

Course 2: Estrogonofe and grilled Jalepeno with Root 1: Carmenere

My next pairing was an estrogonofe. It is a traditional Brazilian stew, composed of a rich, creamy mushroom sauce, and pichana- a cut of sirloin famous in Brazil- slices. Typically it is served with rice and fried potato sticks, but I added a side of jalapeno to make the stew a tad bit more spicy. It's one of my favorite dishes that we serve at Guachos, and I was excited to pair it with one of my favorite wines, Root 1 Carmenere. Although more of an off dry and sweet red, I felt like this wine would have been a perfect pairing for the inherent creamy, rich nature of the stew. I was wrong.

Name: Reserva Root: 1 Carmenere

Variety: Carmenere

Region: Colchagua Valley

Country: Chile

Vintage: 2019

I felt like, for whatever reason, I really lost the characteristics I love in both of these things when I paired them together. I love how sweet, savory, and light bodied the carmenere is. It is such an easy wine to drink, but I felt like the entre sucked out any of the wine's sweetness, turning it uncharacteristically dry and bitter. Meanwhile, the estrogonofe lost the depth it typically has. I feel like I assumed the pichana, a typically juicy and fatty steak, would have paired really well with a red, but I think I should have picked a wine that could have cut the fattiness. Perhaps a more acidic white would have been more elegant. 

Course 3: Churro with St. Kilda Brut

Finally, I paired a sparkling St. Kilda Brut with warm, homemade churros with a doce de leite brigadeiro drizzle. All I have to say is wow. This was possibly one of the best food and wine pairings I have ever had the pleasure of indulging in. The dryness of the Brut was the perfect way to cut the sweetness of the dessert. Typically the brigadeiro is an extremely rich, sweet experience, but the brut cut the sweetness down in a way that had me longing for more. (Since the brigadeiro is an immensely rich, sweet Brazilian fudge, typically it is served in smaller portions. It keeps it from being to overwhelming for a patron. The wine, however, kept the pastry from being too overwhelming.) 

Name: St. Kilda Brut Cuvee

Variety: 80% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir

Region: Southeast Australia

Country: Australia

Vintage: 2022

Honestly, although I knew a sparkling wine would be the perfect ending to my meal and that it typically will pair well with any sort of food, I did not expect it to be as enjoyable as it was. As previously stated, the dry, acidic, light bodied nature of the wine put the typically overloaded sweetness in the churro in check. The carbonation as well really opened up my appetite, acting as an aperitif. I can never eat dessert at a restaurant. I always feel too full and bloated to really enjoyed it. This wine pairing, however, allowed for my senses to appreciate the warm, gooey sweetness of the dessert. 

Although my pairings were in varying success, I felt like my dinner was overall successful. The already rich in flavor food at my workplace was enhanced, and I was able to understand its flavor profile in a manner I had not yet been privy to. It was as if new knowledge- never thought to exist- of an establishment I have worked at for five years had been unlocked. Moving forward, I feel as though my performance as an employee will be enhanced, allowing for my future patrons to have a more satisfactory experience. 

Tasting- Villa Jolanda "I Love You"

Name: I Love You

Variety: Moscato

Region: Vino d'Italia

Country: Italy

Vintage: 2022

Price: $14.95

Winery Review

"A nose of toasted almonds. Dry, smooth, easy to drink with flavors of honey and acacia. Perfect to drink with your Valentine at the pool or on the boat with salads with pine nuts, and almond croissant." 

-Atelier Monnier from Vivino

Wine Folly

Wine Folly describes this variety as, "an ancient aromatic white variety available in all styles from dry to sweet" (page 138). Common flavor notes include the following: orange blossom, pear, honeysuckle, lemon, and mandarin orange (page 138). I feel like the common characteristics of the profile are pretty accurate to this bottle. I was able to sense the sweetness from honeysuckle, the citric acid from the orange and lemon, and the slight floral notes from the orange blossom. Although I thought the wine was more in line with an apple flavor than pear, I feel like Wine Folly provides a pretty encompassing description of the wine.

My Review

I bought this bottle weeks ago because I really liked the bottle. I know that is a terrible way to pick a wine, but it was the most beautiful bottle I have ever seen. Perhaps I thought this bottle would land me a boyfriend, but another year another valentine-less life. Oh well, at least this was a pleasant bottle to share alone. 

Another thing that drew me to the bottle was the fact it only comes around in February. I think it's interesting to create a wine only for a specific holiday. I feel like, however, the viniculturists were able to capture the essential elements of Valentines through taste. The wine was crisp, bubbly, yet balanced by how dry it is. It was appley and floral on the nose, but I felt like the flavor was mostly composed of lemons, peaches, and minerals. When drinking it, the flavor lit up the sides of my tongue in the most delightful manner. Finishing up with a punch of spritzy bubbles, I found this to be a great bottle to enjoy by itself. The depth- compared to some of the other wines I have had this semester, is not as profound. I feel like it is merely an enjoyable drink that gives you butterflies in your stomach, almost like a date on Valentines.