The word ‘sangria’ is said to come from the Spanish word, sangre, for blood (or bloodletting), referring to the colour of this summertime drink.  Actually, we say ‘summertime’, but in fact it is a drink for anytime.  If you are visiting Spain you may also see Sangria referred to as ‘Zurra’ in some regions.  It is a very refreshing drink made of fruit that is soaked in red wine (or sometimes white wine).  It started as a summer drink in Spain and Portugal, but is enjoyed the whole world over.  I have heard that Sangria made its way across the ocean to our fair shores sometime during the 1960’s.

Our friend, Vivian, has made Sangria from a few different recipes including a white Sangria.  I didn’t try the white one, but I did try the red and they were delicious.  My first bottled Sangria that I tried was the Don Simon Sangria that I sipped at ‘The Taste of Wine’ at ‘The Taste of Edmonton’ last year.  We went through I don’t know how many cases of both the regular and Organic Don Simon.  Every day we got shipments.  It was incredibly popular.  So Richard and I thought we should have it for a Winesday this year.

Producer: J. Garcia Carrión
Location: Spain
Blend: Organic Red Wine, Water Sugar, Citric Acid, natural fruit and cinnamon extracts
Tasting: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

The various Don Simon Sangrias are the #1 selling sangrias in the world.[1] There is the regular (red label), organic and sparkling (unfortunately not available in Alberta as of yet).

So here is what you do:

Chill the Sangria, freeze some grapes (great in wine too), cut up some fruit like oranges, lemons, etc.  Pour  the sangria into individual glasses garnished with the fruit.  Or have the fruit cut up and put in a pitcher (Looks pretty cool.  Everyone will be impressed).  Now we have chosed the Organic, but the regular is pretty darn tasty too.  We don’t have the sparkling one here, but we have an idea.  How about pouring some club soda into the sangria?  Yes it will dilute it a little, but our guess is that it will be pretty darn good.

CSPC:     761148
Price:

$11.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice

This is a family run winery with Dominique and Benedicte Ricome at the wheel. This winery is located in Costières De Nîmes in the southern region of France. If some of you have been into wine for a while, you would know this region by the name Costières Du Gard. The name change was done over 20 years ago. This area is located between Nîmes and the Petit Rhône at the point where Languedoc meets the Rhône. The wines, although quite different than either the Rhône or Languedoc, tend to lean more to the style of the Rhône.

The Valcombe vineyards are a mere 20 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. The south facing hillsides provide a fabulous growing area. The vineyards are made up of Grenache and Syrah. The average age of the vines is 40+ years with the oldest vines heading on their way to 60.

Winery: Château De Valcombe
Location: Costières De Nîmes, France
Blend: 50% Syrah and 50% Grenache
Tasting: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - 4:00 – 7:00 p.m

No matter what the vintage, this wine displays a deep ruby/purple colour. That seems to be quite consistent with the vintages that we have received. Some Blackcurrant, Blackberry, strawberries, dark chocolate, a little peppery spice and roasted meat are the notes we get from this wine. This is a very popular wine in the store. Come by and have a taste. Incredible value.

CSPC: 857243
Price:

$12.50

*Price correct at time of printing. Price subject to change without notice

Next week we are having a ‘bubbles times two’ week.  Oh wait ‘til you see.  There is something for everyone… beer drinkers and wine drinkers alike.

Writing these articles (ooops, I am showing my grey roots)… I mean ‘blogs’, has been a lot of fun.  It is even more fun when we have some connection to the people and product.  This week we are visiting Bodegas Osborne from Spain.  We haven’t visited the winery (yet), but we have met the winemaker.  She has visited our fair city a few times and on one of those occasions, Richard and I had the pleasure of meeting her.  Her name is Maria Martinez-Sierra.  If we were asked to give one word to describe this incredible woman it would be ‘vibrant’.  The energy and passion exudes from Maria every time you hear her speak.  Although she is relatively soft spoken, she speaks about her wine with enthusiasm and delight.  She is not only a legendary winemaker, she is also a trail blazer.  When she decided to get into the winemaking world in 1968 you didn’t see women in that field.   To say it was a male-dominated field would be just a tad of an understatement.  That did not stop her at all and her involvement has inspired many women since…and I dare say a number of men as well.

You will notice the Osborne wines have a moderate level of alcohol.  She is not a lover of high alcohol wines.  Although in the Rioja region you are allowed to use irrigation, she does not like it either, as she feels that that does not produce vines that are quality,  long-lived  vines.  You know, that is the wonderful thing about the wine industry.  Everyone has their way of growing, producing and bottling that they feel expresses their product in the very best way.  I for one would not disagree, as here is a woman who has lived her passion.  A woman who went into university to study Philosophy and instead became one of the most revered winemakers.  All because of a part-time job that she had at a winery to help pay the bills while going to school.  Once Maria decided to leave the world of Philosophy behind and head into the vineyards, she travelled to Bordeaux, where she worked and studied at the famed Chateau Margaux.  There is a fabulous clip of an interview with Maria that was done earlier this year.  It is very informative and hopefully you will like it.  Click here to view.

Founded in 1874 by the Navajas family, Bodegas Montecillo is owned by Osborne Group, one of Spain’s largest family-owned producers of wine and spirits.  It is the third most ancient winery in La Rioja Alta area.  The Osborne family has owned the winery since the early 1970’s.  They have a full range of delicious wines, some of which we see here in Alberta.  We have Solaz wines, which are a blend of Tempranillo with various grapes like:  Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot.  Then we have the Montecillo line of wines which are comprised of Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva and the final one is Dominio De Malpica Cabernet Sauvignon.

The symbol for Bodegas Osborne is ‘the Bull’.  This has a story all upon its own and we could write a story just on the Osborne Bull.  Click here to find out about this fascinating symbol and how it gained a life of its own.  Go to “The Osborne Bull” tab.

Montecillo Crianza

Winery: Bodegas Montecillo
Location: Rioja, Spain
Blend: 100% Tempranillo
Tasting: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

This wine was our first introduction to the Montecillo wines and it led us right through their marvelous wines.  Now this is a young wine, for sure, but at the ripe old age of 4, it is older than most of the wines that we see on our shelves in Alberta.   Especially in this price range!  This wine is 100% Tempranillo and it has been aged for at least one year in French oak barrels and then it continues aging in the bottle until it is released.  Once the winery releases it, it is ready for us to consume right away.  They have done the aging for us!  Like the full range of the Montecillo Rioja wines, this wine is very food friendly.

This is the way they describe this wine:  Cherry red in colour, clean and bright.  With well-assembled complex aromas of red fruits and fine woods.  Intense and tasty, long in the mouth and lingering.  Thanks to its fruitiness and elegance, it is ideal for serving with white and red meats, as well as with grilled oily fish. It should preferably be drunk at a temperature of around 18º C.
Food Pairing:

Down Home Pulled Pork BBQ; Moroccan-Spiced Lamb Burgers with Beet, Red Onion, and Orange Salsa;

CSPC:     144493
Price:

$16.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice.

Montecillo Reserva

Winery: Bodegas Montecillo
Location: La Rioja Alta, Spain
Blend: 100% Tempranillo
Tasting: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

This wine is also made out of 100% Tempranillo grapes harvested in the sub-Rioja area of La Rioja Alta.  It is aged for at least 18 months in the French oak barrels, which are made at their winery by their own cooper (barrel maker) It is then left to mature in bottles at the winery until it is sold.  This wine is about 6 years old already and it is ready to enjoy with food or just sipping with your friends.

The description:  Deep cherry red in colour.  With an elegant and complex ´bouquet´.  Well-structured, balanced with an extensive retro-nasal effect.  The wine is ideal for bringing out the flavour of every type of meat: duck, chicken, quail and turkey, whether roasted or stewed, and is excellent with red meats and strong cheeses. It should be drunk at 18ºC.

Food Pairing:Braised Duck Legs and Sautéed Duck Breast; Cedar Plank Salmon; Classic Roast Chicken

CSPC:     746529
Price:$20.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice.

We are going to be the ‘green machine’ next week.  April 22^nd is Earth Day, so we are sampling some organic wines.

Ros

When it comes to Spanish wine, Torres is one of the most recognizable names in the industry.  If we were to swing back 141 years toVilafranca, Spain, we might have met Jaime and Miguel Torres.   1870 was the year when they started Bodegas Torres.  Today Bodegas Torres is still 100% family owned.  That is quite a feat these days when so many family companies have fallen by the wayside.

This is a family who lives and breathes the wine industry.  Their wines possess not only the fun parts of sipping on a glass of wine, but also they possess all the finesse as well.  Not only does this family produce incredible wines from Spain, but they also have winery interests in Chile as well.  Like their Spanish cousins, the Chilean wines are not to be missed as well.

Viña Esmeralda is a fun flirty kind of wine.  It is easy drinking and appeases the palates of many people for many different reasons.  It is a little off-dry, and the flavours are abound.

The Grape varieties are:  Mosacatel de Alexandría (85%) and Gewürztraminer (15%).

How can you resist this wine when it has a description like this:  “A voluptuous, exotically perfumed nose, with deliciously well-defined primary aromas (some floral notes, roses, lilies…), complemented by secondary aromas derived from the wine’s controlled fermentation. Silky and sappy on the palate.”

Food Pairing: 

Melon wrapped with cured Spanish Ham; Sweet and Sour Chicken; Shellfish

a href=”http://www.sherbrookeliquor.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/torres3jpg.jpg”>The name ‘Ibericos’ comes from the Spanish Iberian Peninsula.  The grape variety is Tempranillo, but in Catalonia, where it is grown it has a different name Ull de Llebrewhich means ‘hare’s eye’.

This wine is going to surprise you with its flavours and aromas.  It is aged for 12 months in oak, but the oak is not overpowering at all.  It brings out the best in the wine.  It still has a bit of zing to it, which young Tempranillos have.  As I like to say… it has a bit of Zip.  This is a very food friendly wine.  Experiment and see what you like to pair it with.

The winery says:  “Deep red cherry colour. On the nose it reveals notes of black ripened fruits and spicy aromas (cocoa and nutmeg) from the wood. Silky entrance in the mouth with pleasant tannins.Long and spicy aftertaste.”

Food Pairing:

Roasted Game meats; Grilled Pork Chops; Grilled Strip Loin.

STOP THE PRESSES… Our wines were changed at the last minute, which is why this is late being posted this week.  Our apologies.  We are still doing Spain, just a little different than we had planned.  We hope you enjoy our fun funky wines this week!

Winery: Bodegas Mustiguillo
Location: Valencia, Spain
Blend: 50% Bobal, 20% Tempranillo, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% each Merlot, Syrah and Garnacha
Tasting: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Bodegas Mustiguillo is known for being one of the pioneers in the Vino de la Tierra El Terrerazo, which is located in Utiel Requena in the southeastern region of Valencia, Spain.

This is a juicy wine with lots of earthy funk to it.  Now you may read that and wonder whether it is a wine for you.  Well, here is what I say… you never know until you try and that is what Winesday is all about.  You get to try some wines that you may see on the shelf and wonder what the heck they are all about.  Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate), is what one may call ‘a wine aficionado’ and he says “While it is not for everybody… but it is unquestionabley avant garde in its aromas and flavours.  I found its weirdness to be a turn-on.”  He gave the 2003 vintage 89 points, which isn’t too shabby.

Food Pairing:

Spanish Beef Stew;  Marinated Beef Flank

CSPC:     718228
Price:

$25.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price subject to change without notice.  Price correct at time of printing.

Winery: Beso de Vino
Location: Carinena D.O. Spain
Blend: 100% Garnacha
Tasting: Wednesday, February 23 - 2011  4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Garnacha, Grenache… you say tomato and I say… well you get what we mean.  These two ‘G’ words are the same grape variety.  It is just that in different languages it may be spelled and pronounced a little differently.

Garnacha is a very friendly grape and this particular wine, because it is aged in oak for such a short period of time (only 4 months in French oak), it maintains its nice fruit flavours.

The winery says this:  “Beso de Vino’s red wines begin with the 2009 Beso de Vino Garnacha V.V. (old vines) which spend 4 months in French oak. It displays super fragrant aromas of black cherry, red licorice, and lavender leading to a dense, layered wine that over-delivers big-time for its humble price. Enjoy it over the next 3 years. Grandes Vinos y Vinedos’ collection is replete with stunning values”.  As with the previous wine, this one also scored 89 Points from Robert Parker.

Food Pairing:

Lentil Soup;  Baked Ham

CSPC:     834846
Price:

$11.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price subject to change without notice.  Price correct at time of printing.

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Winery: Osborne
Vintage: 2006
Location: Spain
Alcohol: 12.5%
Blend: 100% Tempranillo
Tasting: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

This winery was started over 200 years ago, and the Bodegas Montecillo in Rioja came to life 136 years ago, which makes it one of the oldest wineries in the Rioja region.  About 50% of the wine they produce goes to export markets in Europe and North America.  Their emblem, The Osborne Bull, is recognized all over.  The Bull was the idea of the winery’s advertising agency and was born in 1956.  You will see the bull not only on all of their products, but also on billboards and roadside signs.  The largest of the bulls weighs over 4,000 kg and is 14 meters high and is made of metal.  An imposing figure, for sure.  About 16 years ago there was a movement under foot to rid the landscape of various signs and images, one of which was the Osborne Bull.  The Osborne family went to court and the court found that the bull is not just a sign, but after over 50 years, it has also become part of the landscape and culture.

We want you to remember this name:  Maria Martinez-Sierra.  She is a wonderful lady.  When we tell people about her we always say that she is a passionate lady and has a personality a big as all outdoors.  Maria has been the winemaker at Bodegas Osborne for over 30 years.  She is one of Europes’ top winemakers and a huge ambassador for Spanish wines.  There is also a little flirting with what we call ‘the international varietals’, as well.  Grapes such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz/Syrah are on the menu too.  Not in the wine we are tasting this week, however.  It is 100% Tempranillo from the Rioja region.

We had the pleasure of meeting Maria a few years ago when she was visiting Edmonton.  (Actually she has come to Alberta a few times over the past few years.) We could have listened to this amazing lady for hours on end.  When she speaks about her wine, her true passion shows in her eyes.  She speaks about her wine like one would speak about their children. I swear I saw a twinkle in her eye as she was telling us about her wine.  She has a true love of the Spanish varietals, as you will see when you try this wine.

Maria is also very particular about the wood that the wine is aged in.  She picks the wood from a particular area in France, because the grain of the wood is woven much tighter and therefore adds subtle flavours to the wine, instead of overpowering it.  Osborne also employs their own cooper to make these wonderful barrels.  Not an inexpensive venture for sure.

We have a neat story to tell you.  When we attended the talk with Maria, she was telling us the she only keeps the barrels for a certain period of time and then they reach the end of their life with Osborne.  One of the lovely ladies who used to work with us asked what happened to the barrels once she was done with them (thinking that they would be used for planting and the like).  Maria spoke quite softly and said ‘we sell them to wineries who cannot afford new ones’.

The Rioja region is one of Spain’s most recognizable regions.  You can see on the map, that the area is not huge, by any means.  But man, they make some great wine there.  Tempranillo is king.  The wine we are tasting this week, as I said earlier is 100% Tempranillo.  Tempranillo is often referred to as Spain’s noble grape.  The name comes from the Spanish word ‘temprano’, which means ‘early’.  This is fitting, as the grape ripens earlier than most Spanish grape varieties.

The name Crianza that you see on the bottle is a term used to describe how long the wine has aged in wood and in the bottle before it is allowed to be released.  It is the second of a level of four terms used.  Sin Crianza (which we don’t see in Canada), Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva are the four steps.  As you go up the levels, the wine must be aged for a longer period of time in wood and in the bottle before it is released.  You cannot put any of these names on the bottle unless you adhere to certain regulations.

This wine is aged for a minimum of 1 year in the wood and matures in the winery until it is sold.  That is why you see all these wines from Montecillo that are from 2006 and earlier.

This wine is a cherry red in colour, with aromas and flavors of red berries, raspberry and cherry, red plum, a little vanilla.  It is a medium to full-bodied wine and has a nice finish.  This is a very versatile wine and goes great with many different foods.

Food Pairing:

Pork; beef (try either of these roasted or grilled);  pizza; grilled oily fish.

CSPC:     144493
Price: 

     $16.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing. Price subject to change without notice

Richard and I haven’t visited the Australian wines in a while, so I think we will just have to check them out. See you down under next week. Come by and visit with Diana and have a sip and a chat.

Winery: Bodegas Ateca
Vintage: 2008
Location: Calatayud, Spain
Alcohol: 14%
Blend: Old Vines Garnacha (Grenache)
Tasting: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Map courtesy of vinisimo.com

When people think of exports from Spain, they think of Hollywood actors like Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz to name just a couple.  Well, let me tell you Spain has some incredible wine.   Let’s step back a little in time…

As with the history in many Mediterranean countries, the cultivation of wine grapes in Spain began with the Greeks and Phoenicians.  After the conquest of Spain by the Moors in 711 A.D. the wine industry took a huge hit.  The Moors forbid the drinking of alcohol, so land that was previously under vine was used for other crops.  In some areas, the Christians were allowed to keep some land under vine for their own use.  When the reconquest of Spain took place the wine industry came alive again due in part to the monasteries, as they needed sacramental wine for Communion.  In the 19^th Century Phylloxera hit a lot of Europe before it hit Spain.  When it devastated France, a number of French winemakers moved to Spain to not only work their art, but they also gave the Spanish priceless information on grape growing, and they also imparted their wisdom of more modern winemaking techniques, the effects of which are still felt in the country today.  When Phylloxera did come to Spain, the Spanish were better equipped to handle it.  They had learned that grafting the vines on root stock that was resistant to Phylloxera was going to be their saving grace.  The damage was not felt as hard as it was in a lot of Europe.  Fast forward to the 20^th Century…  many people around the world associate Spain with Sherry.  Yes, Sherry is made in Spain, but there is a wide range of wonderful wines from this country.  I hope this is the first of a number of articles we get to write on Spanish wine.

The wine we are sampling today, Atteca Old Vines 2008,  is from Northeastern Spain in an area called Calatayud.  This probably is not one of the best known regions of Spain.  Ribera del Duero, Rioja and Priorat are probably much better known on this side of the water.  Calatayud is an area of 5,600 hectacres of land in the Province of Zaragoza in Northeastern Spain.  The wine region is made up of 15 vineyards (Bodegas) which produce about 14 million liters of wine each year.

There are many different grape varieties grown in the Calatayud region including for the reds:  Garnacha Tinta, Tempranillo, Mazuela, Monastrell, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot.   For the whites:  Macabeo, Malvasia, Moscatel de Alejandria, Garnacha Blanca and Chardonnay.   Unlike Germany and some other countries, Spain doesn’t usually have a problem with grapes not fully ripening due to cool temperatures.  The climate in Calatayud is mainly continental with warm to hot summers and cool to cold winters.  Most of the rain that falls comes between April and July.  The later part of the summer is very dry with only a scattered thunderstorm to leave a little rain for the vineyards.

This particular wine is made from 100% Old Vines Garnacha (otherwise known at Grenache).  The vines used to make this wine are between 80 to 120 years old.  Now when the vines get that old, they don’t produce a lot of fruit, but the fruit that you do get is amazing.  It is full of flavour and something just out of this world.   The vines were selected from hillside vineyards at 3000 feet above sea level.  These vineyards were planted in the last few decades of the 19^th Century and the first decade of the 20^th Century.

Richard and I sat down on Friday night to enjoy this wine with our dinner.  I had decanted it about 90 minutes prior.  Richard was enjoying a barbequed steak with various veggies and the like.  Being the rebel that I am, I had some chicken with a balsamic reduction and of course like a good girl, I had lots of veggies. The wine is a very deep ruby colour.  The aromas were awash with blackberries, black cherries and even some raspberries and a little vanilla.  In the mouth you could taste those berries along with some good acidity with a medium body feel.  On the finish, that is when you notice a wee bit of pepper spiciness.  We found it was about a medium finish.  The tannins are very noticeable, but not overbearing by any means.

Food Pairing:

Grilled/roasted beef and lamb; chorizo sausages (grilled or fried); veal; pork; Moroccan stew.  Or try grilled chicken with a balsamic reduction.

CSPC:     1025227
Price:

$23.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice

Atteca photos courtesy of corksandcaftans

Richard and I are heading back across the pond to Chile next week.  As usual, I am running behind, so I better get my suitcase packed.  See you Wednesday!