Special Wine Tastings Coming Up Around Town

In addition to the usual Friday and Saturday tastings around town this week there are a couple of special ones at some of the shops I frequent.

 

Tonight – Bella Vino Stony Point 7:00 – 8:00

Come taste some Swiss Wines and meet the winemaker for Delea 19. Talk it up, enjoy 4 of his wines and some Fondue.

 

Tomorrow – Barrel Thief at 5:00

If you can’t make it out to Bella Vino tonight, the winemaker from Delea will also be at Barrel Thief.

 

Two great chances to taste Swiss wines, I know I haven’t had any and figure most people probably haven’t.

 

Thursday – The Wine Cellar in Midlothian 5:30-7:30

From Jeff: “COME MEET ERINN BENZIGER FROM THE BENZIGER FAMILY WINERY AND TASTE THEIR WINES. BENZIGER WINERY IS LOCATED IN SONOMA, CALIFORNIA AND IS OWNED BY ERINN PARENTS, MIKE & MARY BENZIGER. WE WILL TASTE MOST OF THEIR WINE THAT NIGHT. DO NOT MISS THE FUN!”

 

Also, Next Thursday Bella Vino will be having another special wine tasting event, unfortunately it isn’t free but it sounds like a great time and $15 is still a steal.

 

From Brad: “The wines of Oregon and Washington State have slowly begun to emerge from the shadow cast by California. On September 25th John Cheski of Free Run Wine Merchants will guide us through a tasting of some fantastic wines from small producers of the region. In addition, we’ll celebrate the end of summer with live music and great food paired with the wines. Reserve a space to party with some great wines!”Menu:
Left Coast Chardonnay 2005
Brandborg “Or” Blanc 2006
Left Coast Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2005
Brandborg Umpqua Valley Pinot Noir 2006
Palate cleanser: L. Mawby “Us” Sparkling Wine
Dr. Wolfe’s Family Red 2006
Terra Blanca Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Terra Blanca Red Mountain Reserve Merlot 2002

PLUS:
Live music
Smoked Salmon, BBQ Ribs, and assorted cheeses

Tickets: $15 for one; $25 for a pair
($5 discount with Bella Vino Amanti tag)
(Further $5 discount if you attended the previous tasting)

 

 

Also, all next week Barrel Thief will be celebrating their one year anniversary to be sure to check out their events website for details on the happenings.

 

Get out and taste! Cheers

Holy Barbera Batman!

We hit the Barrel Thief for lunch on Sunday with our friends Paul and Warren who were in town for the day. While we were selecting our wines for lunch, owner Ross, pulled me aside and showed me this Barbera that he was raving about, and recommended it to me knowing my love for Piemonte wines. At 30 bones, the 2005 Ronco Malo Barbera d’ Asti was a little pricey but Ross hasn’t steered me wrong yet so I picked it up.

 

Ronco Malo Barbera d’ Asti is produced by Piemontese vintners Vittorio Bera et Figli which is located in the Langhe hills in the town of Canelli. Bera et Figli is most famously known as the first family owned vineyard to start bottling and marketing Moscato d’ Asti in 1964. Again, this is another vineyard producing their wines organically, although I didn’t know that until I was doing a little research on the internet. A quote from one of their exporters: “In the Azienda Bera vineyards the ecosystem is alive: an abundance of snails is proof of a harmonious environmental balance.”

 

Well organic or not the Ronco Malo did not disappoint, I was thoroughly impressed as we had it with some fabulous homemade (wife made) sun-dried tomato Risotto and braised brussel sprouts.

My Tasting Notes –

Nose – Cherry, blueberry, leather/coffee, currant, bacon, green olive

Taste – prune, fig, earthy funk, cooked veggies, cranberry sauce (thanksgiving style)

Mouthfeel – medium to full body, with generous but balanced acidity

Finish – long with leathery tannins

 

The acidity in the wine paired nicely with the creamy Risotto and the brussel sprouts heightened the cooked veggie notes in the wine and vice versa. With very smooth tannins that I wrote down as leathery but bordered on velvety, you could enjoy this wine by itself or with a dish that exemplifies the flavors of the Piemonte region as I did. Although the 2005 is drinking great now, based on its structure you could definitely hang on to it for a while longer.

 

Bravo Ross, great pick!

Cheers!