Wine Dinner Blog Report

My roommate and I are like many other college students in that we are both B-R-O-K-E. Yes, the two of us were excited to do a wine dinner but wanted to do it on a budget, so we decided we should make one ourselves at home and make it fun!

Full wine dinner picture!

The three wines we drank with dinner.

We tried a 3 course meal with 3 different wines and took the time to taste and compare each wine with each paired food that we selected. Like you can see in the picture above, we had an appetizer of a spinach salad and paired it with a Redwood Creek Chardonnay. For the main course we had pulled pork barbeque with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy with PromisQous Red. And for dessert we had a banana pudding with vanilla wafers and whipped cream paired with Andre Champagne.

Name: PromisQous Red Variety: Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon,
Petite Sirah, and mixed red varietals Region: Santa Rosa, California Country: USA Year: N/A Price: ~$12.00

Review: Ripe red and dark berry fruit, slight black pepper/white pepper, creme de cassis.  15% barrel aging-to underscore our dark and mysterious personality with a little wood. 12.5% alcohol This lighter style of a Zinfandel-based red blend pairs beautifully with an array of your favorite foods including beef, pork, dark meat chicken, braises, soups and Latin cuisine. BBQ ribs was recommended with this wine, so our pulled pork barbeque went perfect with it!






 
Name: Redwood Creek Variety: Chardonnay
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: est. $10.00

Online Review: Our Redwood Creek Chardonnay has enticing aromas of ripe apple and citrus, with hints of oak. Plush flavors of vanilla, citrus and tropical fruit are framed by a rich mouth-feel. This Chardonnay is a rich, flavorful pairing for poultry, fish and cream-based pasta.







Name: Andre
Variety: Charmpagne
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $6.00

Online Review: Our André Brut California champagne is a medium-dry blend of crisp white wine grapes with green apple aromas and a light mouthfeel.





The dinner was a success. The Chardonnay and the salad complimented each other extremely well. I had tried this wine before and was not as fond of it when I drank it alone. However, with food it tasted much better. The salad brought out different flavors in the wine and I could really taste the apple in it.

A picture of one of the pairings (Chardonnay w/ salad)

Next was the main course, I was most excited for this pairing because I have really started to love red wine and who doesn't love pork barbeque? This pairing also went extremely well together. The blended red and the sweet barbeque complimented each other very well. The sweetness in the barbeque brought out the rich, peppery flavors in the wine and I couldn't get enough of it. It was very yummy and one of my favorite pairings of wine and food that I've ever had.

Lastly, we had a banana pudding with vanilla wafers and whipped cream accompanied by a nice glass of champagne. This pairing did not go as well as the others. Since the pudding was extremely sweet the champagne tasted extra fizzy and it was one extreme (thick and creamy pudding) with another (light, bubbly, intense) champagne. However, it was still a good ending to our wine pairing dinner. I will definitely have another one in the future because anything that I can do to further my wine drinking experience I want to try!

My roommate and I on our dinner 'date' :)

Tasting- Trumpeter Malbec

 

Name: Trumpeter
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $7.99

Winery Review: Intense, dark fruit aromas abound in this Malbec.  On the nose, blackberry, black currant and black cherry are layered on top of black pepper and cocoa.  The palate is full of cassis and blackberry, with chocolate on the mid-palate and a hint of black pepper. The finish is fairly short, but enjoyable nonetheless.

My Review: I had this wine with a chicken marsala pasta dish at Sal's and it was very good. It complimented the the chicken and pasta very well and I definitely enjoyed the pairing. Malbec is a wine that I am starting to like a lot more and I would definitely try this again.

Tasting- Trattoria Busa Alla Torre De Lele

 

Name: Trattoria Busa Alla Torre De Lele  
Variety: Pinot Grigio  
Region: Veneto  
Country: Italy  
Year: NV
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: "Named after the famous restaurant in Italy!  This is their house white wine! Coppery color from extended skin contact, round and rich texture with juicy melon aromas and flavors with a sweet fennel note on the ultra smooth finish. Great value Grigio!  Drink Now."

My review: I'd love to go to this restaurant in Italy! The melon in this was very strong, but I greatly enjoyed it. It was very smooth and rich and I liked this wine a lot. I did not try this wine with any food.

Tasting- Lobetia Tempranillo

 

Name: Lobetia Tempranillo
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: "Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly.  It shows a nice cherry color with a violet shade because of its youth.  Red berries and cherries on the nose.  On the palate it is fresh, slightly astringent, and harmonious with a long finish."

My review: This wine was a beautiful color with a nice cherry on the nose. It wasn't too overpowering for a red, and I would try this wine again and pair it with food. I did not try this wine with any food this time though.

Tasting- Lobetia Chardonnay

 

Name: Lobetia Chardonnay  
Variety: Chardonnay  
Region: La Mancha  
Country: Spain
Year: 2011  
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: "Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly.  Clean, bright color with a greenish-yellow tone.  ON the nose, exotic fruits like pineapple.  Full flavored, fresh, with good acidity in the mouth, it finishes with tropical fruits."

My Review: I think it's cool that this winery prides themselves on being organic and naturally grown to appeal to the healthy drinkers. This Chardonnay was very fruity and light and was the perfect amount of sweetness. I did not try this wine with any food.

Tasting- Reserve Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone

 

Name: Reserve Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone  
Variety: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault  
Region: Rhone Valley  
Country: France  
Year: 2010
Price: $14.95/750mL or $38.95/3L

Winery Review: "As for their other values, the 2010 Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Reserve displays loads of ripe flavors.  It is very concentrated for a Cotes du Rhone, and is actually an amazing wine.  Classic garrigue, black cherry liqueur, lavender, licorice and spice box are all present in this full-bodied, intense, and rich Cotes du Rhone.  This is a sensational effort to drink over the next 4-5 years, although it might last even longer."

My review:Just looking at this label, I could tell this wine was going to be more expensive than most wines that I try. This Reserve wine was very intense with a full body. I'd like to try this wine after it has been aged and see the differences. I did not try this wine with any food.

Winery Visit- Potomac Point Winery

Beautiful Potomac Point Winery from the front entrance

"Located just outside of Washington, DC Potomac Point Winery was built upon a parcel from the historic 1040 acre farm called Richland. The sandy loam soil on the undulating hills makes the perfect terroir to grow their estate varietals." (PotomacPointWinery.net) 

My girlfriends and I decided to get together since we were all finally 21 and go to a winery together in the beautiful hills of Richland. We arrived there in the early afternoon and walked into a gorgeous brick building with multiple displays and art on the walls. We reserved a time to try a multitude of wines both red, white, and rose and were eager to 'sniff and swirl'. They gave my friends and I a personalized Potomac Point Winery glass and even let us keep it at the end as a part of the winery tour experience. We tried wines ranging from fruity, spicy, dry, smooth, oaky, bold, etc. A woman led our tour and gave a brief description of each wine before we tried it. We also had a piece of paper in front of us which also helped us remember which wines we liked or didn't like.

My best friend and I during the tasting.

The wines we tried were as follows:

La Belle Vie (2009) Crisp and refreshing white wine that is perfect for sipping on the patio. This slightly sweet white has hints of citrus and melons.
* I liked this white, it was very light and full of citrus flavors.

Chardonnay (2009) Our most versatile wine is crisp and refreshing. Nicely balanced with toasty notes and aromas of pear and mango in the bouquet. Beautiful fruit followed by a lingering finish.
* This Chardonnay was very fruity. I loved the pear/mango flavors in it.

Richland Reserve Viognier (2009) The very ripe fruits made this wine a perfect example of the true nature of this variety, tropical flavors with accents of citrus, banana and passion fruit. The absence of malolactic fermentation allows the freshness of the fruits to shine through. The perfect marriage with Chardonnay made the mouth smooth and crispy with a long palate and a very nice balance.
* This Reserve was very tasteful on my pallet. It was very smooth and I would love to have this one again.

Richland Reserve Chardonnay (2009) This barrel-fermented wine has the melon fruit flavor with a buttery finish that goes great with any cream sauce or just sipping by the fire.
* This Chardonnay was good, but not my all-time favorite. I would like to try this one with a creamy pasta dish though to give it another chance.

La Bella Vie Rose (2009) It is semi-dry, very light wine obtained from a soft press of full bunches of Virginia Syrah. It is light in color, with typical strawberry and citrus flavors. The mouth is elegant, crisp with a nice sweet ending.
* This Rose was very light and the perfect amount of sweet.

Vin de Paille (2008) Wind dried for 45 days after harvest. The flavors and sugars concentrate to obtain a very rich must, the Botrytis works slowly to give its tropical aroma. Ripe apricot and honey flavors with citrus accent. * Interesting fact that it is wind-dried for 45 days after Harvest. I liked the honey accents in this wine. Abbinato (2010) A Chianti-style blend, easy to drink light bodied with a soft tannic structure. It is a modern style light wine, with fruit and vanilla flavors. Perfect to serve with your favority Italian meal, barbecue, chicken and tomato-based meals. * This was a lighter wine for a Chianti blend, and I would love to pair it with a food another time. Cabernet Franc (2008) A fruity peppery wine with flavors of blueberry, strawberry and vanilla with a pepper finish. It is smooth with a medium tannin feel on the middle of the palate. It ends with a long rich finish. The French barrels make it a good balance of a wood accent at the end. * This wine was a little to peppery and oaky for my liking, but the fruity flavors were nice. Petit Verdot (2008) Deep rich color with a unique bouquet of pepper, smoked wood, hay and leather. It has an accent of black currant. A velvety feel in the mouth but with strong and long tannins. It should be paired with strongly flavored food, robust meat and aged cheeses. * This Petit Verdot was extremely bold and intense. I think my pallet has more training to do before I can enjoy wines like these. Richland Reserve Heritage (2008) Our Bordeaux Blend wine with aromas of mocha, baked cherries. The mineral background begins with a full body, fruity mid palate but ends with a slate smooth yet peppercorn powdery finish. This is our signature wine that only the best fruit each year enters into blending trials. * I loved this Bordeaux Blend. It was the perfect amount of fruit with a little coffee kick to it. Rabelos Virginia Dessert Wine These Portuguese varietals team together to make our port-style wine reminiscent of the old country. Full mouth feel and lasting finish. The perfect finish to any meal. * This was an interesting dessert wine. I'd love to try it with other sweets to see how it compares. Norton (2009) This medium-bodied, dry wine has a rich deep color with a floral bouquet. A bit of violet with accents of vanilla, spices and caramel. A very nice mouth balance, rich from the beginning to the end with soft tannins. * This was a good finish to the tasting. Vanilla and caramel are two of my favorite hints to taste in wine and I enjoyed it's smoothness and balance.

Candid shot of my friends before the tasting

My best friends and I in front of Potomac Point Winery

I loved this winery, it was absolutely beautiful and we couldn't have asked for a prettier day to visit. The wine tasting itself was inside, but we were able to walk around and tour the rest of the winery outside afterwards. I sat on the patio in the sun and sipped wine and had good conversation with my best friends and I couldn't have asked for a better day. Winery visits have become an activity I enjoy very much because they are so interesting and exciting to attend. I love visiting different regions and tasting varieties of wine from all over knowing I am furthering my wine knowledge to one day be a wine connoisseur.

End of the winery tour in front of the vineyard