Wine Dinner - Zeppolis (Italian) April 8th, 2012

Front of Zeppolis Italian Restaurant

My roommate Melissa and I dined and wined at Zeppoli's on Easter Sunday. We'd both been to the Geography of Wine organized wine dinners at the restaurant, but we decided to use our 15% off vouchers and have a normal wine and dinner paring in the main dining room.

Olive oil and bread for the table

Me drinking the House Merlot

Our server started the two of us off with olive oil and bread for the table. Melissa and I decided we would both order different wines to take advantage of the opportunity to expand our palettes.


I ordered a glass of Zeppolis' House Merlot. The nose on this wine had big red fruit flavor mixed with a light pepper. The wine tasted fruity on the mid-palette with strong plum and dark cherry flavors coming through. The finish of the wine had a peppery-earthiness to it. I thought it was a pretty solid, medium-bodied Merlot. Despite the ridicule this wine varietal faced in the movie "Sideways," I thought it was pretty good.

Melissa drinking Frisk "Prickly" 2011 Australian Riesling

Melissa ordered a glass of the Frisk "Prickly"; a 2011 Riesling from Australia. Review: "This Riesling is acidic with notes of lemon sorbet, bath salts, and white lilies layered with spices from your   favorite childhood pie shop." I thought this was a pretty good description of the wine's aroma and taste. I got strong floral and honey aromas from the nose of this wine. It was very sweet and crisp on the mid-palette with blasts of lemon and honey. The Riesling had a light, crisp citrus finish.

House Merlot paired with Veal Parmigiana

I thought the Merlot paired excellently with the veal parmigiana and linguine with red sauce. The veal with very fatty with the cheese and breaded exterior. The strong fruit and peppery flavors of the wine meshed well with the powerful gamy taste of the veal. The wine broke down the fat in the veal and left a rich fruity coating on the palette.

I thought the Merlot also paired well with the red sauce on the linguine. The natural acidity of the wine matched that of the sauce, which created a wonderful balance of tomatoe and red fruit flavors. 

Frisk "Pricly" Riesling presented with olive oil

The Riesling didn't pair as well with my veal parmigiana and linguine. The sweet honey and lemon flavors of the wine didn't compliment the rich fatty composition of the meal.

I did think the Riesling paired well with the bread and olive oil. The soft, light bread went well with the sweet wine and reminded me of banana bread. The olive oil created a silky texture on the palette when paried with the Riesling. I was under the impression that Rieslings should only be paried with desserts and possibly salads. After tasting the wine with the bread and olive oil, I found that there are probably many foods Rieslings can be successfully paired to. 

Overall, I had another great experience at Zeppolis. Even though the meal was a bit pricy, I left feeling satisfied. I'd like to try a few more Merlots while ignoring the negative stigma the wine was branded with in "Sideways." I'm also going to tap in to my creative side and experiment pairing Riesling with foods not commonly eaten with the wine. Maybe a salty hummus? I think that's where I'll start...

Winery visit - Chateau Morrisette

On Friday, April 6, 2012, my roommates and I traveled to Chateau Morrisette to participate in a tasting and wander around the winery.  The trip from Blacksburg to Chateau Morrisette is only supposed to take an hour, but due to a wrong turn it took us about 2 hours to reach our final destination. Thankfully it was a beautiful day out so the detour was at least scenic.

Wagon in front of the winery

Chateau Morrisette  in Floyd, Virginia on a 13- acre lot that includes a four-star restaurant, tasting room, and wine-making facilities. A majority of grapes used to make the wine at Chateau Morrisette are brought in from all over Virginia. Once the grapes are st the optimal sugar content, the grape growers immediately harvest and send the grapes to the winery. At Chateau Morrisette the grapes are crushed, processed, fermented, and finally, put in to bottles.

2010 Chambourcin

The Tasting

2010 Chardonnay: This was a crisp refreshing wine. The nose was melon and citrus fruit. It was very dry on the palette with a tart green apple taste on the mid-palette. The finish was creamy, but no buttery.

2010 Chambourcin: The Chambourcin was a red fruit explosion on the nose. I tasted plum mostly, but I also got hints of blueberry. This was a very rich full-bodied wine.

2010 Cabernet Franc: On the nose I found a spicy-cedar aroma. I tasted cherry, plum and the distinct peppery taste I find most Cabernet's exude.

Our Dog Blue: I thought this was a really good Riesling. It had floral and honeysuckle aromas on the nose. On the mid-palette I detected lemon and melon along with that sweet honey flavor.

Blackberry Wine: Of course, the blackberry wine smelled and tasted of blackberries. The acidity on the palette made me think of oranges. I don't usually like very sweet wines, but I found this one delightful. 

After the tasting, my roommates and I decided to head into Chateau Morrisette's restaurant  to eat, drink and take in the beauty of southwest Virginia. We ate cheese and fried green tomatoes, which paired excellently with the "Our Dog Blue" Riesling. The acidity of the Riesling matched that of the tomatoes and created a wonderful flavor on the palette.

                                        

My roommate Joe texting while drinking "Our Dog Blue"

Overall, our visit to Chateau Morrisette was amazing. The food and wine were delicious. The people were extremely nice, and the views were outstanding. I can't wait till my next outing at Chateau Morrisette. I have so many more wines to try and much more exploring to do around the grounds of the winery.

My roommate Melissa and me

Dinner - Zeppolis (Italy) 04/01/12

Front of Zeppolis Italian Restaurant

On certain Sunday's, Zeppolis hosts a wine and food pairing for students enrolled in Geography of Wine. A number of Italian white and red wines were featured in the dinner. These wines were paired with traditional, freshly made Italian cuisine.

Food Presentation

The dinner consisted of heavy h'ordeuvres. We were served baked shells with marinara, a mediterranean pasta, balsamic chicken salad, Italian bread pepperoni pizza and an assortment of cheeses including brie and mozzarella. The wines of the night complemented the food perfectly.




The white wine list comprised Fossi Bianco white table wine, La Fiera Pinot Grigio, Nals Margried Pinot Grigio and Lodali Moscato D'Asti. The reds consisted of Luca Primitivo del Salento Puglia, Feudi di San Marzano Primitivo Puglia, Morli Neri Chianti, Bibi Graetz Casamata Toscana and Lodali Nebbiolo D'Abla Sant Ambrogrio.

Nals Margried 2010 Pinot Grigio Alto Adige

One of my favorite white wines was the Nals Margried Pinot Grigio. The nose was yellow citrus fruit flavors with hints of green apple. The wine tasted creamy and oily on the palette with melon and lemon flavors bleeding through. The wine paired excellently with the balsamic chicken salad. The freshness of the wine complemented the fresh chicken and salad.

Lodali 2011 Moscato D'Asti

I don't usually care for desert wines like moscato, but on this particular occasion I enjoyed the wine. The Lodali Moscato D'Asti was loaded with honey and fresh fruit aromas. Lots of pear and peach flavors came on mid-palette with a bubbly-fresh finish. Surprisingly, the moscato paired well with the mediterranean pasta. The sweetness of the wine countered the saltiness of the olives in the pasta. I never would have expected a dessert wine to pair so well with a savory dish.

Bibi Graetz 2010 Casamata Toscana

I had never tasted a Sangiovese before, and I found the Casamata Toscana to my liking. The nose was a deep red fruit aroma with an earthy spice. The tasted just as it smelled with rich plum and red currant flavors coming through. I thought the wine paired well with the baked shells with marinara and the Italian bread pizza. The red sauces of both dishes complemented the deep red wine very well.

Lodali 2009 Nebbiolo D'Alba Sant Ambrogrio

This was my favorite wine of the night. This wine was so complex with flavor and texture out the shiz. The Nebbiolo had a perfect balance of tannic structure and alcohol. It had bright red aromas of plum and cherry. The wine was extremely smooth on the palette with dark cherry flavors. The Nebbiolo paired well with the marinara of the baked shells with the acid in both the food and wine complementing and enhancing the flavor.

Overall, the wine dinner was very enjoyable.  The food and wine were delicious. I learned all about what wines go well with what foods, and I've been incorporating this knowledge into my wine pairing decisions. I'm definitely going to explore Italian wines more thoroughly, especially Nebbiolo and Sangiovese. I can't wait for the next wine dinner!

Melissa and I at the Zeppolis wine dinner

Tasting - Vintage Cellar 04/05/12

Name: gPG Garganega Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Venezie
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95


Winery Review: gPG is from the delle Venezie regions of northeastern Italy. A clean and crisp palate with plenty of texture and weight follows aromas of apples and zesty lemons. It's perfect with grilled white fish or light risotto.

My Review: The nose of this wine was packed with a lemon, zesty aroma that reminded me of a lemon cleaning solution. The wine tasted like an explosion of citrus fruit with a good amount of acidity blending through. A very crisp delightful wine.


I did not have food with this wine.

Name: Oveja Negra
Variety: Syrah-Cab Rose Reserva
Region: N/A
Country: Chile
Year: 2010
Price: $6.95

Winery Review: Oveja Negra Reserva Rosé is bright cherry-red in color and has an attractive nose with aromas of raspberries and strawberries as well as plum and a bit of green apple. Crisp and juicy on the palate with a slight sweetness that accompanies the red fruit flavors. Pleasing natural acidity with medium high intensity, nice persistence, and a fresh finish.


My Review: I got a strong pomegranate aroma from this wine. I was caught off gaurd by the spicy component of this wine, but it was offset a bit by the red berry flavors of the wine. I wasn't a big fan of the acidity in this wine.


I did not have food with this wine.

Name: Varas Vinho Tinto
Variety: Castelão (45%), Tinta Roriz (25%), Tinta Barroca (20%) and Pinot Noir (10%)
Region: Lisbon
Country: Portugal
Year: N/A
Price: $21.95 ($5.49/bottle)

Winery Review: This smooth Portuguese red is a blend of Castelão (45%), Tinta Roriz (25%), Tinta Barroca (20%) and Pinot Noir (10%). The vineyards are located near Lisbon, planted in sunny gentle slopes of clay and limestone soils. The wine was aged in oak barrels.
My Review: I enjoyed this wine. The nose presented oaky, red fruit flavors. I definitely tasted plum and other red fruit flavors in the blend. I thought this was a very well balanced, smooth wine.


I did not have food with this wine.


 
Name: Montebuena Rioja Crianza
Variety: 100% Tempranillo
Region: N/A
Country: Spain
Year: 2007
Price: $6.95

Winery Review: 100% Tempranillo. Dark red. Spicy red berries and cherry on the nose, with hints of cracked pepper and dried rose. Crisp and dry on the palate, with spicy redcurrant and cherry flavors, light tannins and a fresh, energetic finish. An excellent value, and surprisingly elegant for this price point.

My Review: The nose of this wine was a mix of cherry and raspberry. A lot of deep red aromas.  The wine was dry yet smooth with cherry flavors dominating the palate.


I did not have food with this wine.

Name: Cantina di Casteggio Moscato di Pavia
Variety: Moscato
Region: N/A
Country: Italy
Year: N/A
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Bright, light golden color. Very aromatic nose of ripe apricots, sage, honey and a slight minerality. Medium bodied, sweet and fruity with flavors of apricots and tangerine. Well balanced acidity and medium finish with layers of sweet and citrus fruit.

My Review: Like most Moscatos I've tasted, this wine had a sweet floral nose. It tasted strongly of honey with tangeringe citrus coming through. A very light and delightful wine.

I did not have food with this wine.

Dinner - Potomac Point Winery (Virginia)

When I got home for Spring Break, my parents wanted to do something special before I headed west to L.A. for the week. I suggested we go to the local winery for dinner and try some wine.

My parents and I drove up the gravelly road toward the winery, our first sight being the vineyard. As you can see from the photos, it was a dreary evening and we didn't get to enjoy our meal on the patio. Instead, we dined in the winery's ballroom while listening to live music.

The vineyard at Potomac Point Winery

View from the front of Potomac Point Winery

The wine of the evening, a Virginia Cabernet Franc

We chose the Cabernet Franc as our wine of the night.  This particular varietal is one of Potomac Winery's most popular. I thought this was a very complex and exciting wine. So many flavors came through this wine and with every sip I discovered a new flavor.  The strongest aromas on the nose were pepper and plum tied together by earthy spice.  The wine, which was a 2009 100% Cabernet Franc grown in Potomac Point's vineyard in Stafford, VA, was spicy and smooth on the palette with strong hints of strawberry, raspberry and plum. The finish was earthy with definite hints of oak from the French barrels the wine was stored in. The alcohol content of the wine (13.5%) balanced well with the tannin structure and natural flavors.

Our dinner of red wine cheeses, bread, hummus and olives

The wine paired very well with the assortment of cheeses, bread, olives and to my surprise, hummus. The acidity of the Cabernet Franc melded deliciously with the cheeses, breaking down the fat down to a sharp and peppery reduction. The spicy component of the wine complemented the saltiness of the olives. The peppery taste of the wine and hummus went so well together I've started pairing these two together on a regular basis.

My Mom and I drinking 2009 Cabernet Franc

My parents and I had a wonderful night and I taught them a thing or two about wines and regions. After having such a delicious dinner, I've been making an effort to pair more food and wine. I've been finding some interesting pairs such as the Franc with red-pepper hummus.

I really enjoyed the dinner. I've discovered that I am a big fan of peppery and spicy reds with natural fruit flavors. While these are charateristics of most Cabernet's, I felt the Franc was most attune to these descriptors.

I'm excited to do some experimenting!

Zeppoli's Tasting: Part 2

Name: Allamand
Variety: Malbec
Region: Uco Valley
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $11.99

Winery review: It is a 100% Malbec that comes from 15-20 year old vines planted in the Uco Valley region. Located at the foot of the Andes reange, more than 3,150 ft above sea level, this region produces some of the most refined and elegant Malbecs from Argentina. Deep purple color, lots of violets in the nose, and natural great acidity, are the typical characteristics of this typical Uco Valley "appellation" Malbec.

My review: I thought this was an acceptable wine. The nose was earthy and spicy.  I thought there was a tart taste which brought to mind the flavor of black olives. There was definite heat coming through this wine, however it mixed well with the pasta dish I was eating.  








Name: Crucero
Variety: Carmenere
Region: Colchagua
Country: Chile
Year: 2010
Price: $7.99

Winery review: Alcohol 13.5% "Herbal, powerful and varietally on the money, with common, but well executed aromas of earth, blackberry and olives. The palate offers proper weight and intensity, while the flavors of black plum, raspberry and tea are just herbal enough to scream out "Carmenere." Tasty and consistent from nose to finish. -M.S."
-Wine Enthusiast (December 1st 2010), 88 pts +BEST BUY "Top 10 under 10"
My review: I really enjoyed this wine. Like the previous wine I smelled definite earthy aroma sprinkled with spices. It was dry on the palatte with a prominent pepper taste.  I thought it paired well with the crab-tart appetizer which off-set the pepper very well.









Name: Maipe
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $8.99

Winery review: Alcohol 13.5% This Cabernet Sauvignon has an intense ruby red color with aromas and flavors of ripe blackcurrant, rep pepper, mint, chocolate and vanilla hints. The fruits and tannins are perfectly balanced to give a wine of excellent structure making it ideal for grilled meats, game, pasta or pizza.

My review: This wine was full of flavor. A full bodied wine, no doubt. The nose was filled with that blackcurrant aroma described above. The palette was filled with potent black berry flavors and some earthy hints.  I drank this wine without any food.











Name: Gen 5
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Lodi, California
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $11.25

Winery review: Alcohol 13.9% - We strive for a friendly Cabernet Sauvignon, with juicy red and black fruit flavors that are well-balanced and textured and soft on the palatte.
Review: 92 points ('09), Wilfred Wong: "Taking Lodi into a whole new level, the finely-tuned '09 Gen 5 Cabernet shows intricate and complex flavors; ripe for sure, yet classy and refined; long finish."
My review: I thought this was an interesting Cabernet. I could smell the heat on the nose mixed with a smoky aroma.  Although the alcohol content is fairly high, the well balanced tannic structure made it easy to drink.  Definite smoky flavors on the palette with a mushroom taste coming through as well.  The wine paired nicely with the pasta dish I was eating.

Zeppoli's Wine Tasting

Name: Crucero Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Curico Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2010
Price: $10.25

Winery review: Sauvignon Blanc is the fabled grape of both Bordeaux Blanc and the Loire Valley (Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume).  This varietal exhibits aromas of musk melon, pine, and grass. The finish is zesty and citrus-like, and goes very well with chicken and seafood.

My review: I thought this was a nice supple white wine. The nose was a lemony, zesty mix. Definitely smooth on the palette emitting very low heat. It went very well with the salad provided. I can definitely see my self drinking this wine to refresh on a hot day.









Name: Picpoul de Pinet
Variety: Picpoul de Pinet
Region: Coteux Du Languedoc
Country: France
Year: 2010
Price: $8.50

Winery review: alcohol 12.5% - Citrus and exotic fruit dominate this fresh, crisp and lively wine from the South of France.  Well-balanced with good acidity. A perfect match to seafood or shell fish.

My review:  This wine was a little to tart for my taste. I definitely felt some heat coming through which I think overpowered the exotic fruit flavor described above. It tasted much better after eating a crab tart and I agree that this wine is best suited to be paired with seafood.

Name: Manos Negras
Variety: Malbec
Region: San Juan
Country: Argentina
Year: 2009
Price: $12.75

Winery review: Alcohol 13% - The high altitude desert of the Tulum Valley in San Juan, Argentina provides ideal conditions for this once minor Spanish grape to flourish in unique and exciting ways. The warm sunny days and cool mountain nights produce wine of light yellow color, with explosive floral aromas, citrus fruit flavors and a crisp, clean finish.

My review: This was probably my favorite wine of the night.  I definitely smelled those strong floral aromas in the nose.  I tasted a bit of the citrus flavor but definitely more floral flavors.  This one had a crisp zing too it and went very well brie.  

Name: Sombras Del Sol Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Valle Central
Country: Chile
Year: N/A
Price: $6.99

Winery review: Alcohol 13.5% - This refreshing Chardonnay has intense aromas of sweet tropical fruit and notes of vanilla and chestnuts. A blend of freshness and creaminess, the citrus character comes through along with sweet fruit on the palette.

My review: This was a full-bodied wine comprised of salty olive and zesty citrus flavors.  Despite the reletively high alcohol content it was pretty smooth on the palette and allowed for flavors to come through.  This wine went well with the crab tart and salad served at the tasting.

Name: Rinaldi Red Dream
Variety: 100% Malvasia Nera
Region: N/A
Country: N/A
Year: N/A
Price: $12.99

Winery review: Alcohol 7% - The wine is ruby red but not too deep, fruity and pleasant. It's a dessert wine, it is possible to appreciate it at his best if you serve it chilled. This frothy and fruity red wine delivers flavors of honeysuckle and black pepper. Light, fun and exciting; it's great for parties and light fare.

My review: I enjoyed the light fruitiness of this wine. There were definite honey and citrus flavors and it went very well with the chocolate cupcake. There wasn't enough alcohol to justify this as a go to wine, but I did quite enjoy it.