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

Tasting- Concannon Shiraz

Name: Concannon Shiraz
Variety: Shiraz  
Region: Central Coast, California
Country: USA  
Year: 2008  
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: This is an extremely rich, full-bodied wine with a dark fruit core. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cassis and dark cherry are followed by more berry fruits and chocolate and mocha on the palate.

My Review: This wine was very rich and dark and very intense on the nose and the pallet. I tasted hints of chocolate, vanilla, and coffee. They weren't too overpowering and they all went well together. Overall, this wine was a good red and I enjoyed it. I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting- Ksana Bonarda

Name: Ksana Bonarda  
Variety: Bonarda  
Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina
Year: 2008
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: The bouquet is floral and lightly jammy, with berry aromas and a savory note or two. To the uninitiated, this is a great introduction to Bonarda. Finishes solid. Very sweet, berry smell with some rooty undertones. Kind of dry, makes your lips pucker.

My Review: I like the label on this wine a lot because I love purple and it's very cute and girly. This wine was a little too dry for my liking, but was very good on the nose and the underlay of berries was pleasant. I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting- Black Ridge White

Name: Black Ridge White  
Variety: Zinfandel  
Region: California 
Country: USA  
Year: NW  
Price: $3.95
 
Winery Review: This fruit forward White Zinfandel displays fresh aromas and crisp

flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. It is incredibly food friendly and will pair well with burgers, sandwiches, fruit salad, and more. 
   
My Review: I love fruity wines and this wine definitely possessed fruity flavors of different berries. It is very cheap to purchase so definitely affordable for a college student and although I did not try this wine with any food, the online review says it would be good with a burger, so I will definitely try that in the near future.

Tasting- Chandon Sweet Cuvée

Name: Chandon Sweet Cuvée  
Variety: Sparkling Wine  
Region: California 
Country: USA  
Year: NW 
Price: $9.95
 
Winery Review: This wine is an innovative sparkling wine style revealing vibrant stone fruit and floral aromas with rich, luscious mouthfeel. This wine enlivens the senses and sparks spontaneous moments, complementing your passion for a good life.

My Review: This wine was much different than the other because it was a sweet, sparkling wine. It resembled champagne and was very light and fruity to taset. I would buy this for a celebratory occasion in the future. I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting- Wilson Daniels

 

Name: Wilson Daniels
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Central Coast, California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Orange blossom and citrus permeate the aromas. Alluring flavors of orange and grapefruit dominate the palate. Bright acidity balances the plush mouthfeel, resulting in a clean finish. 

 
My Review: I liked this wine and thought it was a very refreshing, light white wine. I am a fan of Sav Blancs and enjoyed the citrus flavors this wine provided. I did not have this wine with food.

Winery Visit: Beliveau Estate

 

Beliveau Estate

What a beautiful day for a winery visit! On April 5th, my sorority hosted a parents weekend for all of our parents to come into town for a weekend of fun festivities. The first event the committee had planned was a wine tasting at Beliveau Estate in Blacksburg, VA.  This winery is farely new and just officially opened to the public about a year ago in May 2012. It is 165 acre estate owned by a former building constructor professor at Virginia Tech.  It's location took us through these windy roads to lead us high in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia. Beliveau is also an award winning bed and breakfast place and is very popular for weddings and other private events! There is a beautiful patio with a breath-taking view and I would very much like to attend an event here in the summer.

Wine Bar

We sat down at these beautifully set tables shown below each with a sheets of paper consisting of all wines we would be trying during the tasting with a brief description and price included. Two men led the tasting. One was the assistant wine maker and the caterer of the estate and referred to himself as the "food pairing man". The other was the 'wine guy' and told us how each wine we tasted was made and the unique background each wine possessed. Then, the best part... tasting the wines. They had three white wines and seven red wines for us to taste and we were all excited to start! Throughout the tasting, they educated us all about Beliveau Estate and the individual wines and how it came to be where it is today.

 

Tasting Room

Tasting with my two roommates!

The above picture is the tasting room we had rented out and I thought it was absolutely adorable and antique like. There were strings of lights all over the ceiling and I thought this place was extrememly quaint and warming. I was especially excited to be here because of this wine class and knowing what I should do before tasting each wine, 'sniff and swirl', swishing it all throughout my mouth to get the most flavor, etc. I felt very knowledgeable about what he was talking about with each wine and loved discussing them with my friends that aren't in the wine class and also with friends that are. I made sure to take good notes on each wine so I would remember them well and even rated them on a scale of 1-10 so I would know which ones I liked and which ones I didn't.

The wines we tasted were as follows:

WHITES:

• "Afternoon Delight": This lightly oaked dry Vidal Blanc has overtones of grapefruit and vanilla. $18
• Green apple on the nose, tasted like a 'hot' wine. Pairs great with seafood. I rated this wine a 6.
• "Destiny": This dry crisp Vidal Blanc is an excellent sipping wine.  Serve chilled *BRONZE MEDAL $16
• This wine is the same grape as above, but it is non-oaked. I prefer the non-oaked wine. It smelled of peaches on the nose. This is also the very first wine they bottled at this winery and pairs well with goat cheese. I rated this wine an 8.   

• "Lovers Quest": A semi-sweet Vidal Blanc - a favorite of those who like wine not too sweet and not too dry. $15

• I loved this wine! It has 2.5% sugar, goes great with soft cheeses, fruit and pestos.  There is no oak and tasted similar to a Reisling. This was my favorite white and I gave it a 10 rating.

REDS:

• "Silhouette": Our Cabernet Sauvignon is a cornucopia of light berry flavors topped with a spicy overtone. $20
• A light dry red that goes great with cheeses. Strong berry on the nose with a little spice and peppery aftertaste. I rated this wine a 6.
• "Rainbow": A full bodied zinfandel with the peppery overtones zins are known for - delicious $24
• This red is medium to full body with a sweet sense on the nose, however it was more of a kick in the mouth with pepper.  Definitely not fond of this wine. I rated this wine a 4.
• "Sunset Sipper":  Our winemakers chest bursts with pride at the release of this luscious red zinfandel. $24
• We warmed up this wine in our hands, it has a darker color.  Made in American and French oak!  It is great to drink alone and very fruit forward.
  I rated this wine a 7.
• "A Cappella": 100% Landot Noir red table wine has distinct berry overtones.  A wonderful sipping wine! $16
• This wine is great chilled in the summer. It was a beautiful purple color, and the right amount of sweet. I loved this wine and rated this wine a 9.
• "Warm Glow": Our semi sweet Chambourcin is rich in flavors of plum, dark cherries, almond and succulent pear.  This is velvet to the palate! BRONZE MEDAL $20
• With a deep intense red color this wine will stain everything...including the inside of the glass. This wine goes well with dessert and was very smooth. It won the Bronze Medal in the Southeast Mid-Atlantic wine contest.
  I loved this red and rated this wine a 10.
• "Summer Rose": A sweet wine of blended reds.YUMMY! $15
• This is 50% Landot Noir and 50% Chambourcin.  There is no oak and it had a very peppery nose.  This wine shocked me, I was not expecting the sweet taste at all with the strong peppery nose it led me to believe it would not be so sweet. This wine is easy to drink alone because it has 6% sugar!
  I rated this wine a 9.
• "Serenity": This after dinner favorite is a blend of two Charbourcins.  It's decadent yet mellow flavor pairs fabulously with chocolate.  A perfect hostess or friendship gift. SILVER MEDAL $19
• This wine is 100% Chambourcin and has won two silver medals.  It is 5% sugar so not quite a dessert wine, but close to it.  They had us try the wine, and then gave us dark chocolate to try with it to taste the difference. Chocolate and this wine complement each other so well and Ioved it.

 

Excited to be at Beliveau Estate :)

This was such a great experience and I loved visiting this winery. The staff was very helpful and kind and everyone in our party had a great experience trying wines and having good conversation with each other. I would love to come back here another time in the summer and sit on the patio with a glass of wine in hand listening to a live band overlooking this beautiful estate. 

 

 

Throwing up the KD with my sorority sisters on the patio.

Tasting- Caprice de Bastor-Lamontagne

 

Name: Caprice de Bastor-Lamontagne
Variety: 60% Semillon, 36% Sauvignon Blanc, 4% Muscadelle
Region: Sauternes
Country: France
Year: 2004
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: "Very clean, with lemon, mineral and honey aromas that follow through to a medium body. Shows vanilla, apple and melon flavors, with a medium finish. Lightly sweet."

My Review: I liked this wine label a lot, it made me think I was about to drink a sweet, light, citrus wine. The nose spelled very fresh and fruity and I was anxious to taste it. However I did not like it as much as I thought I would. I also did not taste this wine with food.

Tasting- Torre Castillo Alegre

 

Name: Torre Castillo Alegre
Variety: 100% Monastrell
Region: Jumilla
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: "4 months in new American oak barrels. Bright ruby-red. Dried cherry, pipe tobacco and rose aromas, with a hint of woodsmoke. Sweet and fleshy on the palate, with blackberry and cherry flavors complimented by licorice and a suggestion of dried herbs. The cherry and smoke notes repeat on the finish."

My Review: Knowing this wine spent time in American oak barrels tells me that it will have a lot of flavors having spent time in such a porous open barrel. The nose on this wine was very smokey and cherry and once I tasted it, the 'Oak Monster' came out. I did not taste this wine with food and also am not very fond of big oaky wines in general.