Let’s Go Tasting!

My question…rather challenge, has been when shopping for a new bottle of wine. Whether it be to take home and savor myself or something to bring to a gathering of friends, I always hope to introduce a winner and not a bomb – that half empty bottle that sits alone on the table at the end of the evening. This can still happen even after going through my checklist; region, grape, vintage, presentation (label), and in some cases a suggestion from a reputable wine enthusiast.  Well, I have found a way to overcome this obstacle…Wine Tastings!

This has become my happy hour, my weekend excursion. With my wine journal, phone (for the camera) in hand and my wine buddies, I can circle the vineyards and wineries of the world, new and old, and back home with a bottle or two all in time to enjoy my finds. Tastings are frequent – you can find at least two a week locally but if you live in a metro area there can be a lot more. In my neck of the woods, urban-suburban, I can find one during the week and many on the weekend. Some are sit down, casual to elegant. Sampling 5-8 wines, with something to cleanse the palette, like-minded folks to mingle with and share the tasting experience, informative background on what you are tasting by a wine connoisseur, a vineyard representative or if you’re lucky, the winemaker. A nominal fee of $5-25.00 is a drop in the bucket compared to a cover charge at your local watering hole and the cost of a glass or two.  And that’s without the guarantee of good conversation or a good time. There are some that give you samples of those that are being highlighted or  what’s on sale in the weekly flyer: taste, buy and go. You can find these tasting on a Friday, Saturday and in some places on a Sunday.

I attended a wine tasting event recently at a restaurant that was hosted by a local wine shop I frequent.  It was well attended; several wines were served all from the Oregon wine region and presented by a spokeswoman from the wine region. I attended solo but was seated at a table with a lively group of wine enthusiasts like myself. They also raffled of several bottles of wine. I wasn’t as lucky in the raffle as I was in enjoying the sips, nibbles and company and all for a nominal fee of $10.00.  

The best ways to find out about tasting? Get on your local shop email list and ask your go-to places if they have tastings. Some places like Total Wine, post on a board in their establishment, not just with wine, but spirits and beers are also on the board. Vineyards have their own tastings where you can buy a flight and take off from there with a glass or bottle.

I made friends new friends with Sandy, Nancy, Carol, Elaine & Chris, and our pourer Joey Jacobson who is also the owner of one of my favorite shops, Manchester Wine & Liquor. My favorites of the evening were 2014 Trentadue La Storia Merlot, Trentadue Chocolate Port and Foris Pinot Noir

 

Go forth my fellow enthusiast! Taste, try and buy a few new wines and Let us know where your favorite tasting places are!

HAPPY SIPPING!

My Most Recent Adventure…

My most recent adventure in the world of wine has been wine tastings at local wine shops. I find them to be a fun and an inexpensive way to taste before buying. It hurts my wine allowance and palette to spend money on a bottle that that doesn’t suit my drinking taste – they ultimately get used as a cooking ingredient rather than drinking along with the dish; you meet interesting people from the whole wine enthusiast spectrum; and the evening can be very educational and informative. Not to mention my personal wine list has grown to a few pages after a few rounds of tastings.

Recently I attended a blind tasting to distinguish the characteristics of wine grape varietals, Old World and New World characteristics, and quality of wine without being influence by the label.

I am going to share by experience from the Old vs New World perspective. At present I am partial to New World wines. New World wines are from the Southern hemisphere and Americas. South Africa, Chile, and lately Oregon and Washington State, are definitely my go to. With New World, there are no laws restricting where grapes are grown or how they are tended. Most New World wines are designed to be sipped rather than be paired with food (the way I like to sip) and are recognized by the grape type rather than region.

Although I have my favorites from the Old World – Spain, Germany and Portugal, I am tipping the scale with New World. A more in-depth look for me was the Pinot Noir. It has been what I find myself drinking a lot of lately. At this particular tasting, they put Old up against New world. The first was a bit drier than I prefer, but had subtle fruit flavor, imparting earthy notes of chalk and minerals and hints of spice. The other had a strong fragrance, fuller fruit taste and subtle spice, this pleased the senses of my palette, while not being quite as dry.

The reveal…

The first was Le Renard Bourgogne Rouge, an Old World. The second was Kudos Reserve from Willamette Valley, Oregon, a New World. As I said in the beginning, I lean toward the New World style with this varietal. The grapes are grown in different climates and soil, along with how the winemaker crafts winemaking.

     

The tastings continued, uncovering my preference of varietal style from Chardonnay to Cabernet Sauvignon. And although I prefer the New World style of winemaking, I am not saying that I can’t be swayed to enjoy those wine produced in the Old World. I’ll have to be discerning of the region where the grape is grown and the process the winemaker takes in crafting his wine.

I am going to host my own blind tasting with a few friends, Zinfandel vs Primitivo. Join me by hosting your own blind tasting and share your results. Also search your local wine shops and see what type of wine tasting events they offer.

HAPPY SIPPING!