You have heard us say “Washington = Merlot” many times before.  We have a feeling that that saying may soon become “Washington = Charles Smith”.   The man and his wineries have been getting an incredible amount of press over the past few years.  From The Wine Advocate to Wine Spectator, there doesn’t seem to be any stopping this train.  If you met the man, you would be overwhelmed by his passion for winemaking.  It shows through in every fiber of his being.  It isn’t fraught with stuffiness, but just plain love of the stuff.  Richard and I wrote about Charles last year highlighting his Kung Foo Girl Riesling and Boom Boom Syrah

We recently had the delight of meeting Charles and his beautiful wife, Ginevra, when they visited Edmonton in October of this year.  We had the pleasure of enjoying dinner with them and about 25+ people.  Even with that many people, it was quite an intimate dinner.   Winter, the wine agent representative in Edmonton, told us that Charles wanted to make the dinner like a family event.  No plating food ahead of time.  He wanted all the food to come out in serving dishes and people could pass the dishes around the table just like at a big family dinner.  She said that he wanted to get people to chat and get to know each other.  Well, that we did.  And it was a blast!

Charles referred to the first couple of wines we enjoyed that evening like country wines.  ‘These are the type of wines like if you were in Tuscany and you asked for the local wine and they poured you a glass, this would be it.’  ‘There is no need to swirl it and sniff it, just drink it.’

If we were to describe Charles in a few words, we would say he is a ‘take me as I am’ kind of guy.  No fuss no muss.  We gotta say, that is great and truly refreshing.   Hey Charles!  Love the curly hair, man.  Of course, I am partial to curls myself.

The Velvet Devil

Winery: Charles Smith Wines
Location: Mattawa, Washington, U.S.A.
Blend: 2009: 90.6% Merlot, 9.4% Cabernet Sauvignon
          2010: 91% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

Merlot.  People either love it or don’t.  Well, we love it.  It is a tough grape to describe because there is so much to it.  There is a lot of red fruit like:  raspberry and strawberry to name two.  Then there is the black fruit like:  black cherry, blackcurrant, plums and damsons.  On top of that there is the fig and prune plus chocolate.  You hear it being described as having ‘velvety’ tannins, as well.  Now there are many more descriptors that people will get out of Merlot, but that will give you an idea.

Love love love the name of this wine.  We always tell people that when you are enjoying a really nice Merlot you should have the same sensation as the touch of soft velvet on your fingertips.  Why call it “The Velvet Devil”?  Charles says “It makes Merlot sound sexy… because it is!”

He describes the 2009 like this:

“PURE VELVET! Milk chocolate, wild blackberry, baking spice, rose oil…beautifully perfumed Washington in a glass….Velvet Devil? HELL YEAH!”

What about the 2010?

“Classic Merlot aromas of dark cherries, cedar, pip tobacco. Anise, stone and cherry blossoms. Yeah, believe it! Naughty and nice, a true Velvet Devil.”

People think we are nuts when we tell them that one vintage is different than the next.  Yes, it is true that the basics are the same, but the expression… wait a minute, that “expression” bit sounds stuffy, and Charles is far from stuffy.  Let’s just say this:  Every year the wine is going to be a bit different, which is good, because if every year they were exactly the same it would be no fun.  We know you will enjoy each one.  If you don’t believe me, just try them.  You’ll see.

CSPC:                   735856
Winesday Price:

$20.25 (Includes Winesday 10% discount.)

Regular Price:

$22.50

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

Winery: Charles & Charles
Location: Washington
Blend: 2009 & 2010: 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Syrah
Tasting: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Charles & Charles is “a collaboration founded in 2008 between Food & Wine Magazine 2009 Winemaker of the year, Charles Smith (K Vintners, Charles Smith Wines) and Charles Bieler (Three Thieves, BIELER Pere et Fils, Sombra mezcal). The label is an abstract play on the American Flag done by the well loved and historic Nashville, TN poster shop, Hatch Show Print.”  They produce only two wines:  Charles & Charles Rosé, and the Charles & Charles Red

Just to let you know, Richard and I were two of those people who were swirling and sniffing this wine.  We know Charles said to ‘just drink it’, but we couldn’t help it.  It smells incredible.  We knew as soon as we tried it that we would have to include in our Winesday for you.

They describe the 2010 like this:

The wine is still loaded with black fruit lead by currants, violets and blackberry with rich, toasty mocha aromas - all of which carry through to the palate.  A portion of the syrah was whole cluster fermented which adds to the dark brambly flavors.”

CSPC:                   738576
Winesday Price:

$16.65 (Includes Winesday 10% discount.)

Regular Price:

$18.50

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

Next week we are hitting Australia and the U.S.A.

The Zuccardi family moved to the Mendoza region some years prior to 1950.  In 1963 Alberto Zuccardi planted his first vineyard in Maipú to show other regional farmers how the irrigation system he designed worked and how it would benefit the agricultural industry.  Little did he know what he would be starting!

In 1976 Alberto’s son, José Alberto, joined the family business.  Not too many years later the brand ‘Santa Julia‘ was born.  The brand was named after José’s only daughter, Julia.  Sebastián, José’s oldest son, and Miguel, his youngest son became involved in the Zuccardi family business in the past decade.  Each is responsible for different parts of the company.  Sebastián is in charge of the estates in the Uco Valley, which produces some of Zuccardi’s top wines.  Miguel has the responsibility of taking care of the Zuccardi family interest in high quality olive oil production.  (all pictured above right)

A visitor’s centre and restaurant was opened in 2001 with daughter Julia (pictured left) taking the reigns.

“From the very beginning, we focused on the achievement of four goals:  Producing the highest quality wines; keeping a constant innovation capacity; working in full harmony with the environment; and being useful to the community we live in”[1]

The Santa Julia vineyards produce Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay along with Viognier, Pinot Grigio and Tempranillo.  The man behind turning these grapes into vino is winemaker Rodolfo Montenegro.  2011 marks Rodolfo’s 30^th anniversary with the winery.  For 15 years he also taught at the Don Bosco Faculty of Enology.

Santa Julia Viognier

For some, the big oaky Chardonnays of old were losing their shine and those people were looking for something with more body but they wanted to nix the 2×4.  Others who enjoyed the lovely Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc were looking for a wine that was a little more substantial but not Chardonnay (poor ol’ Chardonnay).    In came Viognier.  A number of years ago we heard many times that, in Australia, Viognier was going to be the big white like Shiraz was the big red.  It never really happened in Australia.  Viognier, however, can be found all around the world.  When talking about Viognier most think of the Rhône.  In particular, Condrieu.  However, Viognier may be found from the Cape in South Africa to Australia, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Chile, Argentina, U.S.A, Bulgaria, New Zealand, Japan and Canada.  The grape works well blending with other varieties and is quite capable of standing on its own. [2] Today the soil where our grapes have grown is in Argentina.

Winery: Familia Zuccardi / Santa Julia Winery
Location: Santa Rosa Vineyards, Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: 100% Viognier
Tasting: Wednesday, November 9, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

The grapes for this wine are from the Santa Rosa Vineyard in Mendoza.  The grapes were all hand-picked during the last two weeks of March 2010.

“Santa Julia is one of the most dynamic trademarks which best interpret the new trends in consumer′s preferences.  As a winemaker, I was able to begin this transformation having the support of this Winery′s strategic pillars: innovation and a constant search for product excellence”, says Rodolfo.[3]

Notes from the winemaker:

Colour: A greenish yellow of medium intensity with silver gleams.

Aroma: Very varietal character, fine, intense and complex. Notes of tropical fruits combined with flowers and ripe fruits: roses, peaches, green apples, pears and bananas.

Flavour:Rounded, balanced, fresh and wide in the mid palate. Touches of citrus - orange peel. A long and complete finish.

Food Pairing:

Thai Green Curry with Seafood ; Quick Roast Chicken and Root Vegetables

CSPC:     612317
Price:

$12.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Winery: Familia Zuccardi / Santa Julia Winery
Vintage: 2009
Location: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Malbec 10% Syrah
Tasting: Wednesday, November 9, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

“Familia Zuccardi really is all about family, first and foremost. It is not unusual to find a second or even a third generation member of the same family working at the Zuccardi estate. Many investments have been made to ensure that the people who live and work on our estate get the very best care, education and remuneration for their dedication.”[4]

The family states emphatically their commitment to organic production in their vineyards.  Just over 35% of their vineyards have been certified organic.  They believe in energy conservation.  Solar power is gradually rolling out throughout the entire operation.  When they do need to fertilize, they only use “green fertilizers”.  They make their own organic compost consisting of grape skins and pips (seeds) plus goat manure.  They plant vetch and barley to help bring nitrogen back into the soil.  The boxes used to ship their wine are made from recycled material.  The Zuccardi family is also involved with protecting “native birds and wildlife” to “maintain a balance with nature.”[5]

The grapes for this wine were sourced from three vineyards.  The Cabernet Sauvignon was grown in the La Consulta Vineyards.  The Malbec came from the Agrelo Vineyards.  The Syrah grapes were cultivated in the Santa Rosa Vineyards.  Each vineyard’s grapes bring unique qualities to the Santa Julia Magna Corte.

In the winemaker’s words:

Colour: Deep red violet with blue hues.

Aroma: Black and red fruits (moor, cherry and plum) mixed with aromas due to age in barrels such as vanilla, tobacco and chocolate.

Flavour: Silky entry with soft and balanced tannins well mixed with black fruit flavours.  Well balanced, great and long finish.

Food Pairing:

Roast Leg of Lamb with Red Wine Jus;  Braised Beef and Mushrooms

CSPC:     743212
Price:

$19.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Our next country has been on our list to visit for quite a while.  The wines of South Africa will be discovered on November 16^th.  Come join us.

[2] Grapes & Wines by Oz Clarke and  Margaret Rand

[3] www.familiazuccardi.com.ar

[4] www.santajulia.com.ar

[5] www.santajulia.com.ar

Vineyards in South Africa usually run between 27° and 34°.  It is very rare that frost makes its presence known in this part of the world.  With a long history of winemaking, the first vineyards were planted in the Cape area in 1655.  The Boekenhoutskloof farm was founded in 1776 in the Franschhoek Valley (see map above).  Fast forward to 1993 when a group of enthusiasts who were committed “to the future of South Africa” started a replanting program.  Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Semillon and Viognier made up the wealth of the vineyards.

What is… and how would one pronounce Boekenhoutskloof?  The translation for the word is “Ravine of the Boekenhout”.  It is pronounced “Book - en - Howed”.  Boekenhout is an indigenous Cape Beech Tree which is very important in furniture making.

The winery has four different labels.  All of which are available in Alberta.  They are “Boekenhoutskloof, The Chocolate Block, Porcupine Ridge and The Wolf Trap”.  Today we have the pleasure of sampling The Wolf Trap.  We hope you enjoy.

The Wolf Trap Red

Winery: Boekenhoutskloof
Location: Franschhoek Valley, Cape of Good Hope,  South Africa
Alcohol: 14.47%
Blend: Syrah 65 %, Mourvèdre 32 %, Viognier 3 %
Tasting: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

This year we revisited these wines.  We haven’t had them in  a long time, so it was fun to come back to them again.  In the Spring of 2011 we did some tastings with the wines and it was fun to hear our pleasantly surprised people were.

These wines are made in a Rhône style with Syrah, Mourvèdre and Viognier.  Yes yes.  I know Viognier is a white wine.  No, that wasn’t a printing error.  They just add a wee touch of it and it brings out some wonderful qualities in the wine.  It is so popular that many countries around the world have been making Rhône style wines. Winespectator has coined the phrase “Rhône Rangers” to apply to the California producers who have been making this special blend of wines.

WINEMAKERS COMMENTS:
Both the Syrah and Mourvèdre component come from a Malmesbury vineyard with the Viognier sourced on Boekenhoutskloof. The reds were fermented using selected Rhone strain yeasts. French oak matured with Viognier blended prior to bottling. Egg white fined.

TASTING NOTES:
Abundance of black fruit flavours with hints of violet. Unpretentious easy drinking with smooth tannins and sweet berries on the palate.

CSPC:     714772
Price:

$14.00 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

The Wolf Trap White

Winery: Boekenhoutskloof
Location: Franschhoek Valley, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa
Alcohol: 14.54%
Blend: 67% Viognier, 19% Chenin Blanc and 14% Grenache Blanc
Tasting: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Here is another interesting blend and one that you will remember for a long time.  Fun and refreshing.  With this combination of grape varieties, you know that it will be food friendly.  On the other hand, it would just be fun for a wee sip on the patio/deck.  Yes, I know that we are heading into October, but I enjoy every minute I can get my hands on on the deck.

WINEMAKERS COMMENTS:
A friendly style displaying characteristics of the components in harmony. The Viognier grapes are sourced from a dry-land vineyard in Malmesbury, the Chenin Blanc from Stellenbosch and the Grenache Blanc from the Piekenierskloof near Citrusdal. The Chenin Blanc and Grenache Blanc were barrel matured in French oak, after which the Viognier was blended and the wine was cold stabilized, filtered and bottled.

TASTING NOTES:
Fruit blossom, spices and almond flavours, followed with a well textured palate with nice weight and a rounded finish.  The wine has a lingering aftertaste with subtle wood flavours.

CSPC:     140582
Price:

$14.00 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Back to Europe we head next week for a couple of neat wines for Thanksgiving.  Can you believe it is almost Thanksgiving?  Wow… where did the time go.

Richard wasn’t with me when I tried the Botalcura Syrah Malbec for the first time.  I was in Calgary volunteering at a dog show and there was a dinner on the Saturday night where the Botalcura was served.   The people at our table thoroughly enjoyed it, so I thought it would be a great wine to try on a Winesday.

The birth of the winery began with a Chilean businessman (Juan Fernando Waidele) who loved wine and a French winemaker (Philippe Debrus).  When the two men met in 2000, Botalcura Winery soon followed.  The town of Botalcura is located about 3 hours south of Santiago.  The town is set amongst the rolling hills of the Coastal Range in what is known as the Maule Valley.

“The word Botalcura means “large stone” in Mapundungun, the language of Chile’s native Mapuche people. Something hard and solid as rock speaks of the power of the gods and of what’s enduring.”

“Along with the constant search of excellence in our wines, Botalcura Winery has always been committed to our surroundings.  We focus in 3 essential issues: community, economy and environment. By taking care of these 3 items, we want to contribute and achieve sustainable development, and obtain improvements in our people’s quality of life, in our town and on our planet.”[1]

Botalcura El Delino Reserve Syrah/Malbec

Winery: Botalcura
Location: Central Valley, Chile
Blend: 58% Syrah, 42% Malbec
Tasting: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

When I had a wee sip of this for the first time, I knew right away why people were oohing and ahhing at that dinner.  This is a nice easy drinking wine with lots of fruit up front and a touch of spice.  It would go great with our Alberta beef.  When I arrived home from Calgary I picked up a bottle and opened it up for Richard and I to try together.  Richard said the same thing.  ‘I can see why the people at the show really enjoyed it.  It is easy drinking.’  This little wine has garnered the attention of a few others, as well.  Take a look.

• Stephen Tanzer - International Wine Cellar *87 Points
• Decanter World Wine Awards *Commended
• International Wine Challenge *Bronze Medal

The folks at Botalcura say this:

“Aromas:  Complex and alluring, with ripe blackberry, black cherry, violets, black pepper and nutmeg. Flinty, with rich, toasted oak and vanilla.”

“Palate:  Broad entry leading to a round, mouth-filling middle, with full but soft tannins. Very elegant, with approachable balance, fine acidity, and fullness from the alcohol/glycerol elements. This wine showcases the synergy between these two great varieties. The Syrah lends grip and structure, while the Malbec provides color, aromatic complexity, and voluptuous body. The result is a remarkably intense, fruity, and voluminous wine. It has been barrel aged to complement the luscious grape flavors.”

Food Pairing:

Herb-Rubbed Top Sirloin Steak with Peperonata; Salt-and-Pepper Rib Eye; Spiced Lamb Chops

CSPC:     728051

Botalcura Chardonnay Viognier

Winery: Botalcura
Vintage: 2010
Location: Central Valley, Chile
Blend: 62% Chardonnay, 38% Viognier
Tasting: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Chardonnay (see left) and Viognier (below right)… neat combination.  The hot days and cooler evenings of the Central Valley are like heaven to these grapes.  The acidity, the flavours and everything is made all the better when you have those wide swings in temperature.  Look at it this way… when we have a hot day, there is nothing quite as wonderful as the cooler temperatures of the evening.  Our bodies get a chance to cool down and get ready for the next day.  Grapes are no different.  They like the break too.

When they hand-pick these grapes they are able to pick the best grapes for the wine.  Although there are upsides to machine harvesting, nothing replaces looking at the grapes and picking only the ones that are ready.

Winery Notes:

“Aromas:  The attractive nose recalls white tree fruits such as apricot, peach, and pear, joined by notes of grapefruit and tangerine, delicately balanced with toast and vanilla.”

“Palate:  Soft and attractive, with broad balance on the mid-palate, delicate top notes, and a characteristic slight bitterness on the medium finish. This is a uncomplicated wine for everyday enjoyment.  It brings together the respective charms of Chardonnay and Viognier: the first provides voluptuousness in the mouth and the second, the intensity of flavors. The result is a captivating and original blend with solid fruit expression and a soft, but full mouthfeel.”

This wine is meant to be enjoyed at a young age.  Within two years of bottling is recommended.

Food Pairing:

Grilled Chicken Breast; Seafood Pasta with Cream Sauce

CSPC:     728050

Next week we have a “Sweet-Tea” treat for you to try.

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.

What’s new in the Don Sebastiani & Sons winery? Well, in this case we should say ‘what is not so new?’.  Mind you the vintages are new, but Pepperwood Grove was one of the first wines that DS&S (Don Sebastiani & Sons) had in their portfolio a decade ago.  The wines back then were known for good taste and good value.  That hasn’t changed.

We last visited Don Sebastiani & Sons in July 2010, so it is about time that we made a trip back.  Since we last talked about this family, Don Sebastiani’s father was inducted into the 2011 Vintner’s Hall of Fame.  August would have been very proud.

Négociant is the term used to describe this company.  Sounds French, and it is.  Basically a Négociant is a wine merchant who purchases grapes etc from growers and then produce the wine under their own name.  It is good for the farmers, because they sell their crop and it is good for the company so that they can get the best for their label (s). In this particular case, the grapes come from different areas of California.   Today we are trying two of the Pepperwood family.

Pepperwood Grove Syrah

Winery: Don Sebastiani & Sons
Location: Sonoma, California, U.S.A.
Blend: Syrah
Tasting: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

The winery describes this wine: ”This Syrah is a deep red-violet color, with expressive aromas of blueberry pie, jammy fig and bramble, and a hint of that classic pepper and leather syrah character. Juicy on the palate, blueberry and tart cherry flavors mingle with tobacco leaf and red currant. Tart fruit is well-balanced with chewy, soft tannins and dark secondary flavors, finishing powerfully with a touch of espresso and lingering aromatics. The depth and character of this Syrah make it an excellent every-day wine for the wine enthusiast.

“The first wine made by Don Sebastiani & Sons, Pepperwood Grove represents old Sonoma to the Sebastiani Family. While every winemaking region has its own story, they all share a common way of life. Today, we source grapes from all over the world to find the best wine at the best price in order to spread that sense of place with families everywhere.”

Food Pairing:

Roasted Venison Stew with Parsnips and Carrots;  Smoky Bacon Pasta Sauce

CSPC:     566539
Price:

$14.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Pepperwood Viognier

Winery: Don Sebastiani & Sons
Location: Sonoma, California, U.S.A.
Blend: Viognier
Tasting: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

“Pale straw color with aromas of lemon zest and jasmine with a hint of pink grapefruit. The palate is full with green apple, light cinnamon & clove flavors which underscore the ripe apricot and peach nectar and finishes with honeyed tropical notes.”  That is how winemaker Greg Kitchens describes this wine.  We have visited with Viognier in the past a few times and I am sure we will visit with this grape again.  It is very food friendly… pairing with lightly spiced Thai food.  It is hard to believe that a mere 45 years ago in the Rhône Valley in France, there were only 8 hectares of Viognier vines.  Of course today there is quite a bit more than that.  In California the grape has gained in popularity.  It is known as an aromatic grape variety and can rival Chardonnay for its weight and food pairing.  Come by and try this fun wine and try one of the recipes below.

Food Pairing:

Green Curry Chicken; Chicken Tetrazzini; Spicy Tuna Roll

CSPC:     575449
Price:

$13.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Chile, Chile, Chile.  We are heading off to see Diablo next week!  Come join us.

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.

“Our passion for the land of Tuscany - handed down to us from our forefathers - is of fundamental importance to ensuring that we pursue our goals with unfailing enthusiasm.”  Sergio Zingarelli

This passion for Tuscany started long before Sergio’s father, Italo Zingarelli, purchased the estate of Le Macie in 1973.  Although the estate was approximately 85 hectares (210 acres) only about 2 ha was under vine.  Sergio, Italo’s youngest son, followed his dad’s dream.  Under his guidance,  Rocca della Macie purchased more estates and replanted vineyards.  Today, Rocca della Macie has over 600 ha (1482 acres) with 200 ha under vine and 80 ha of olive groves.  Tuscany is not just all about the wine, you know.  Olive Oil, honey and… oh my… the amazing food.  The scenery in the Chianti Classico region is breathtaking.

For a winery that has over 600 ha it cannot be easy for them to keep in touch with what their customers want.  “It is our belief that a direct, open and honest relationship with our customers is the indispensable pre-requisite to embarking upon any sort of collaborative enterprise.”(source: Rocca Delle Macie website)  In 2002 the Zingarelli brothers commissioned a state of the art wine cellar in their Le Tavolelle estate.  It holds almost 1,000 barriques.  (One barrique will hold 225 Litres or 59 gallons of wine).

The main winery is located in Castellina in Chianti, which is the place where Richard and I visited.  For as far as the eye can see there are vineyards and olive groves.

When Richard and I visited Rocca delle Macie we stayed at Riserva Di Fizzano.  If you travel to this region, you truly cannot miss this beautiful place.  It was purchased by the Zingarelli family in 1984.  The Relais Riserva Di Fizzano is a medieval hamlet that dates back to the 11^th century.  It is located between Florence and Siena and is very close to the beautiful town of San Gimignano.  The six buildings in the hamlet have had a “painstaking renovation, overseen by architects Fabio Zingarelli and Lucia Peretti”.  We were only able to stay for a very short time, but we know that we will be back.

Our apartment had a living room, dining room, kitchen and a bedroom with an ensuite.  There is a swimming pool for those warm summer days and a restaurant.  It is such a relaxing place.  No noise, just peace and quiet.  It is located in the middle of the Chianti Classico region on 61 hectares and is surrounded by the vineyards and olive groves.  It is not just the scenery that is beautiful, but also the people.  They were completely wonderful and we will never forget their hospitality.  On the day that we were leaving, we had two wineries that we were going to visit.  The staff knew that the restaurant would be closed by the time we got back from our adventures, so they asked the people in the restaurant to make up a plate of antipasto, breads, and cheeses for us to have, because they knew we were travelling and may not have a chance to get a bite to eat.  Just incredible!  They just made us feel so welcome.

Rocce Delle Macie Sasyr, Toscana IGT

Winery: Rocca delle Macie
Location: Tuscany, Italy
Blend: Sangiovese 60% and Syrah 40%
Tasting: Wednesday, December 8, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

Now after talking about vineyards in the Chianti Classico region, we are travelling to Rocca delle Macie’s Campomaccione estate, which is located in Maremma.  Here there are 80 ha of land with plantings of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.  This estate is located within the Morellino di Scansano DOC zone.  The zone gets its name from the Sangiovese grape, which is known locally as Morellino.  This whole region is an up and coming area in Italy.  We are seeing many more wines from here.

The Sasyr wine gets its name from the two grape varieties that make up this wine Sangiovese and Syrah.  Only 15% of the Sangiovese grapes used in this wine have been aged in French oak barrels for about 6 months, which is why this wine has the fruity aromas of cherry, blackberry and raspberry.

“This wine is made with carefully selected and ripened grapes, grown in the Maremma vineyards. The latest controlled fermentation techniques used to produce this wine help to preserve the intense colour and the primarily aromas coming from the grapes.”

Food Pairing:

Roasted veal; Roasted bell pepper pasta; Light Cured meats and selection of cheese;

CSPC:     607473
Price:

$18.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Lingenfelder Estate is located in the sunny Pfalz region of Germany (formerly known as Rheinpfalz).  This is known as the warmest and driest region in Germany.  There are 59,000 acres of vineyards in this region.  Pfalz is the second largest wine growing region in Germany next to Rheinhessen, which has a huge area of 65,000 acres.

The Lingenfelder family has been in the wine business since 1520 when Anstatt Lingenfelder was recorded as being a “winzer” or grape grower and winemaker.  They take a “hands off approach to winemaking: no fining, no stabilisation, no cultured yeast addition no bacteria addition for malo-lactic fermentation - absolutely nothing.” (source: Lingenfelder website)

The estate is located in the small community of Grosskarlbach, which is in the northeast area of the Pfalz.  This region clocks 1800 hours of sunshine a year!  That should produce good weather conditions for the grapes.

“At Lingenfelder, we believe that great wines are created in the vineyard. This is the only way to create great wine. All our vineyard practices aim to create perfect fruit at harvest. We then practice gentle winemaking in the cellar. We intervene as little as possible and let nature take its course. To preserve the maximum complexity and fullness of flavour, we avoid clarifying or stabilizing agents. Our aim is to bottle the Pfalz sunshine and to create wines of distinction that reward repeated tasting, and, we hope, that contributes to your sense of well-being.”

The white grapes that make up their vineyards are:  Riesling (37%), Scheurebe (10%), Grauburgunder (9%), Müller Thurgau (2%), Sylvaner (4%), Kerner (7%).  The reds are:  Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) (18%), Dornfelder (13%).  Today we are trying one of their Rieslings. (source:  Lingenfelder website)

The vast majority of their wine stays within Germany.  About 2,600 cases per year travel around the world.  We are happy that a few cases landed here in Alberta.

Lingenfelder Bird Label Riesling

Winery: Lingenfelder Estate
Location: Pfalz, Germany
Blend: Riesling
Tasting: Wednesday, December 8, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

“Our Vineyard Creatures are a series of wines that focus on the clear, crisp, vibrant flavours of the vineyard. Featuring their hip, new screw-cap closures, these are fun, easy to open, easy to enjoy wines. Based on our popular bird-label Riesling, the Vineyard creatures are serious wines that taste like wine, not the over-oaked, lifeless, “manufactured” wines that have been prevalent in recent years. The Vineyard Creatures are wines with distinct personalities, and represent the many hues and colours of varietal flavour found within our vineyards.” (source:  Lingenfelder Website)

When you think of Riesling, I bet you think of Germany.  In this case you would be right.  The two seem to be synonymous.  Riesling is considered to be one of the most recognizable white wines and also one of the most important.  The grape dates back to the 15^th century.  There are different styles:  Kabinett, Auslese, and Eiswein to name just a few.  From fois gras to peaches and fish to fruit… it is one of the grape varietals that we have lots of fun pairing with food.  Enjoy!!

Food Pairing:

Fish in a green curry Thai sauce; Seared scallops; Baked ham; Cod in a cream sauce

CSPC:     568634
Price:

$15.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Next week we are heading back to Italy to visit the Frescobaldi family.

Baron Philippe de Rothschild Maipo Chile came to be in January 1997 and is “wholly-owned” by Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA. in France.  The bodega was built in 2003 and, of course, it is a state of the art facility.  We would expect nothing less than the best from Rothschild.  “Escudo Rojo is the literal Spanish translation of ‘Rothschild’, which comes from the German ‘das rot Schild’, the red shield, which initially served as the family emblem.”  On the Escudo label the red shield is surrounded by alternating blue and yellow blocks of colour.  The blue and yellow are the Rothschild family colours.  A classy label from a world class company.  Enjoy the wines we are tasting today.

Escudo Rojo

Winery: Baron Philippe de Rothschild - Chile
Location: Maipo Valley, Chile
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Syrah, Cabernet Franc
Tasting: Wednesday, December 1, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

Escudo Rojo (Red Shield) first whet our palates over 2 years ago when we were doing a tasting.  We loved all the grape varieties that make up this neat wine, so how could we go wrong!  It did not disappoint.  The longer the wine was open, the more flavours came along.  I refer to this wine as a ‘French grapes with a Chilean twist’.  You get the full body from the Cabernet Sauvignon, a bit of spice and zip from the Carménère and Syrah and the wonderful fruit from the Cabernet Franc.  The grapes for this wine are grown in the Maipo and Rappel Valleys.

The grapes are hand-picked and hand-sorted.  The wine is matured in two ways: 6 months in French oak and 6 months in stainless steel.  “This delicate balance enables the winemakers to preserve the wine’s freshness and fruit over a measured tannic structure and controlled oak.”  “The density of Carmenère and Syrah give it the strength of its Chilean character, while Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc complete a blend which has its origins in Baron Philippe de Rothschild’s Bordeaux winemaking know-how.”

Richard and I enjoyed it as it was, but as always my mind went wandering down ‘cooking lane’.  I started thinking about all of the foods that would go with these flavours.  At the end of the tasting I headed for the butcher and picked up some strip loin steaks.  Instead of barbequing them, I decided to put them under the broiler.  As a side dish I started some mushrooms, onions, green and red peppers (basically anything I had in the crisper went in).  I took a fork and pierced the steaks a few times on each side.  Then I took a wee bit of the wine and poured it over the top and then cracked some fresh pepper over the steaks.  I was a little mistaken in how long it would take the steaks to cook so the side dish was ready a little sooner.  No problem, I figured.  I took some of the Escudo Rojo and deglazed the veggie pan.  By the time that was done the steaks were ready.  I put the steaks on the plate and topped them with the vegetable mix and added a baked potato on the side.  Richard looked at me and said “you can make this again, Smiley”.  After that was such a hit, every time I did a tasting with this wine, I would tell people about that first day.

Decant decant decant.  Did I say decant?  You won’t believe the incredible aromas and flavours that come out of this wine after it has had some time to sit in a decanter!  If you would like to sip a wee bit as soon as you come home, use your aerator.  Then put the rest in a decanter.  You can even pour it into the decanter by way of the aerator!  This is a wine that has many lovely layers.  The character is unmistakable.  We hope you enjoy.

Food Pairing:

Broiled Strip Lion steak (see above); Aged cheddar cheese; Lamb and beef stew; Grilled lamb.

CSPC:     577155
Price:

$18.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Escudo Rojo Chardonnay

Winery: Baron Philippe de Rothschild Maipo Chile
Location: Maipo Valley, Chile
Blend: Chardonnay
Tasting: Wednesday, December 1, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Each time Richard and I present some wines for people to taste, it is always so interesting to hear what they think about a product.  Quite frankly, we are of the belief that it doesn’t matter what someone else tells you or what you read.  Yes, that is very interesting and it is always great to see what the ‘people in the know’ think and how they rate it’ (that is the geeky side of me talking there).  BUT… the most important thing is how much each individual enjoys the wine.  For those of you who know us, you have heard us say this many times.  Every time we ‘do’ a tasting, we fill out customer comments so that the agent and producer can read what the people who are buying their wine, think of their products.  That brings me to this Escudo Rojo Chardonnay.  Each time people have tried this wine, they are so surprised… in a very good way.  We usually get ‘oh I am not much of a Chardonnay person’… then they try the wine and find out that they are a Chardonnay person, but just didn’t know it.

Sometimes people have tried a wine many years ago and they didn’t like it and then think that they just don’t like that grape variety.  Nothing could be further than the truth and this wine is a great example.  This is an easy drinking, medium-bodied Chardonnay.  I notice the nice fruit (tropical mostly), but here is how the winery describes this Chardonnay:  “Nose: Refined and complex. It first reveals a subtle combination of white blossom and toasted hazelnut aromas before asserting its power on notes of tropical fruit. White peach and pineapple, elegantly associated with toast and vanilla.  Palate: The attack is round and substantial with aromatic white fruit flavours enhanced by a touch of fresh vanilla. The lush and creamily smooth mid-palate displays perfect balance between fresh tropical fruit and toasty, spicy notes.”  Doesn’t that sound yummy?  Don’t chill it too much, because you will lose some of the lovely flavour.

Food Pairing:

Grilled chicken encrusted with bread crumbs, sesame seeds and Dijon; Pan seared Scallops (put a little of the chardonnay in the pan!; Roasted Turkey breast.

CSPC:     732030
Price:

$18.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

“Every man dreams of making his/her personality live forever by leaving an indelible trace of his/her life and creations. The idea that underlies MGM Mondo del Vino is just this: to make premium wines with the aim of leaving a real mark, that is, the satisfaction of customers and consumers.”  They go on to say “Grape harvesting and processing is not just enough to make an excellent wine. It takes passion, curiosity, and enthusiasm. These are exactly the values shared by all the staff working every day at MGM Mondo del Vino”

Luna Argenta Prosecco

Winery: MGM Mondo del Vino
Location: Veneto, Italy
Blend: Prosecco
Tasting: Wednesday, December 1, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

We have been Prosecco fans for at the very least a decade.  There is something about this sparkling wine that keeps drawing us back.  It is great as an aperitif, with salad, a main course or dessert.  In short… Prosecco is like a smile in a bottle.

This Luna Agenta just received the ‘Judge’s Choice - Sparkling,  Wine Access International Value Wine Awards’.  I am mentioning this because this is a Canadian magazine.  Wine Access and Vines are probably two of the most recognized recognized magazines in this country.

Prosecco is a white grape variety that is grown in the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions in northern Italy. It is best known for the light easy drinking fun sparkling wines.

The winery describes this wine:  “This harmonious and seductive sparkling wine, pale straw yellow in colour combines soft body of floral notes.”

If you think bubbles are for a special occasion only… well, you are right.  Our thinking is, however, that every day should be a special occasion!  Now we are going to let this sparkling wine do the talking.  Come join us!

Food Pairing:

Salad; Fish (poached, broiled); Fruity desserts.

CSPC:     733428
Price:

$17.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Next week we are staying it Italy for a bit, then we are off to Germany.

“Rumor has it that the Vampire Vineyards are actually owned by a circle of vampires, and the company’s founder, an entertainment attorney from New York, is actually just a front. (Whether he and his convertible were commandeered by a Vampire is still a subject for debate.) We do know however that after satiating themselves for years with their Transylvanian blood of the vine, the powers that be decided to spice things up and migrate westward like so many vampires before them.” (Vampire.com website)

Now I know a lot of you are probably thinking that here is a company riding the Vampire band wagon. You would be correct about vampires being more popular with the onset of Twilight, True Blood, The Vampire Diaries and a number of other books, movies and TV shows. Although this onslaught of vampire-media has created more awareness, what you may not know is that Vampire Wines have been around since the mid 1980’s. The idea was the brainchild of lawyer Michael Machat.

The wines originally came from Transylvania. Yes you read that correctly. We first started to see these Transylvanian wines on the shelves in Alberta around 1996. They were produced in relatively small amounts at that time. The first labels had a demonic funky feel to them. They were reproduced from tapestries that hung in old castles in Romania.

The brand started to grow and the label changed to become a little more “main stream”. More growth saw more changes. The owners of Vampire wines wanted people to take them seriously. They didn’t want a gimmicky label that would make people think that they made gimmicky wines. Mark Morton of Vampire Wines says “We are proud of our wines.” “The Vampire wines are made for everyday consumption.” Not just for around this time of the year.

The wines made a leap from Transylvania, Romania to California, U.S.A. The move allowed Vampire to have more control from the ground to the bottle. It also allowed for further growth. In 2006 Vampire became a licensed winery. They “wanted to ensure high quality.” They purchase their grapes from a number of vineyards throughout the North Coast region. “The grapes may be from Napa, Sonoma or other counties in the region.” They have the ‘advantage of purchasing the grapes from wherever’ they want. They also have a winemaking team who help to bring their vision to consumers.

Vampire Wines will be opening a Tasting Room in Beverly Hills in the not too distant future. It will be the only tasting room in Beverly Hills. It will be located on Santa Monica Boulevard across from The Peninsula Beverly Hills. There isn’t a firm date for opening, but tune into their website. I am sure a date will be posted as soon as it gets a bit closer.

Vampire Cabernet Sauvignon

Winery: Vampire Vineyards
Location: North Coast Appellation, California, U.S.A.
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon (with just a touch of Syrah and Merlot)
Tasting: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 - 4:00 – 7:00 p.m

Map sourced from “California Wine Info”

The Vampire Vineyards folks say: “Classic, small-lot fermentations, followed by aging with both European and American oak, gives full expression to the rich varietal flavors in this wine. Judiciously blended with small amounts of Merlot for softness, and Syrah for added structure, our Cabernet displays ripe flavor character and a lovely aroma that will continue to develop with additional time in bottle.”

Food Pairing:

Grilled Pork Chops with onions, peppers and a Cabernet Sauvignon reduction; Roast Beef; Grilled hamburgers with rosemary.

CSPC: 726562
Price:

$16.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Vampire White Zinfandel

Winery: Vampire Vineyards
Location: North Coast Appellation, California, U.S.A.
Blend: White Zinfandel
Tasting: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 - 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Vampire Vineyards says that this White Zinfandel is “the perfect wine for picnics, luncheons or lighter fare, our White Zinfandel is also an ideal aperitif or casual afternoon sipping wine. Enjoy with good food and great friends.” Mark Morton of Vampire Vineyards says that the White Zinfandel “is the best kept secret in our portfolio”. It came into the marketplace about 3 years ago.

Food Pairing:

Roast Pork with a sweet fruit sauce; Chicken salad; Apple Crisp

CSPC: 726564
Price:

$16.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

We are taking a road trip to British Columbia next week. Come share the ride with us. We have lots of room and would love to have your company.