Tasting: Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Name: Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Variety: 100% Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Region: None listed
Country: Italy
Year: 2010 
Price: $6.95

Winery review: Deep ruby red color with violet highlights and a pleasant and fruity bouquet. Full bodied, soft tannins and good acidity. Excellent with pasta dishes and red meats.

My review: Smelling this wine, I got a very whimsical, creamy scent. Tasting it, I found the tannins to be noticeable yet very unobstrusive. The dominant flavor was fresh-cut grass with an extremely subtle citrus mixed in. The finish was very sharp and short.

Food: None

Tasting: Monte Aman

Name: Monte Aman
Variety: 100% Tempranillo
Region: Arlanza
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95

Winery review: Fermentation of selected grapes in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature. Aging in American oak casks for 5 months followed by 3 months in the bottle before being released in the market. Inky ruby. Ripe cherry and plum on the nose. Smooth and fleshy, with deep dark fruit flavors complicated by bitter chocolate and anise. A spicy quality adds lift and focus to the weighty fruit. Offers an appealing mix of power and energy and drinks very well right now. 

My review: This tempranillo smelled like a compost pile. I found it to be very full-bodied with somewhat of a wheat/grain taste. The finish started off very harsh but faded away into a smooth and refreshing end (I could not get any specific flavors from the finish).

Food: None

Tasting: Maipe Chardonnay

Name: Maipe Chardonnay
Variety: 85% Chardonnay, 15% Viognier
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95

Winery review: 30% malolactic fermentation, 30% was aged in French oak barrels. Brilliant yellow
golden color with green hints. The wine is crisp and filled with white peach, pear, green apples flavors, toasty vanilla. Elegant and luscious wine, well balanced. Crisp and long finish. Pairs well with
creamy soups, pork, veal, vegetables.

My review: For me this wine tasted like wood and tobacco leaves and left an unpleasant vinegar-like aftertaste in my mouth. I did not enjoy the Maipe Chardonnay.


                                                                                     Food: None

Tasting: Villa d'Orvieto

Name: Villa d'Orvieto
Variety: Grechetto, Procanico (Trebbiano), and Malvasia
Region: None listed
Country: Spain 
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95

Winery review: Fresh and crisp, it has a beautiful, floral bouquet. It is wonderful
with appetizers, fish, chicken, and salads. 

My review: Upon tasting this wine, what I first noticed were peach and berry notes followed by a melon rind mid-palette. The finish was very short and slightly bitter.


Food: None

Tasting: Dibon Cava Brut Reserve

Name: Dibon Cava Brut Reserve
Variety: 45& Macabeo, 25% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada
Region: Penedes
Country: Spain
Year: None listed
Price: $9.95

Winery review: Light gold with plenty of bubbles, this wine has aromas of apples and pears with pleasant floral notes. Crisp and light-bodied on the palate, stone fruit flavors are accompanied by a mild minerality and balanced acidity. A delicious sparkler for a great price!

My review: I detected little to no smell when I sniffed this wine. Tasting it, I found it to be very tangy/tart and fizzy with a buttery, nutty finish. The wine was refreshing but no distinct flavors jumped out at me.

Food: None

Tasting: Morada Sangria

Name: Morada Sangria
Variety: Sangria (red wine and citrus extracts)
Region: None Listed
Country: Spain
Year: None listed
Price: $4.95

Winery review: Morada Sangria is a traditional Spanish drink made with red wine and citrus extracts. Garnet color and fresh on the palate. Pasteurization preserves the color, aromas and flavors. 7% Alc.
It is a very refreshing Sangria with around 85 grams of sugar. Sangria is now one of the hottest items in the beverage industry and it's growing exponentially year to year. Serve well chilled, on its own or with lemonade and slices of fruit like peach, banana or apple. 

My review: The smell was very strongly exotic, smelling of oranges and cinnamon. Upon tasting it, not only did I get an intense sweetness, but the notes of cardamom, orange lemon and grape all show through in a very harmonious way. I purchased a bottle of this immediately after tasting it because it was so delicious! My only concern is the high sugar content- having more than 1-2 glasses would likely result in a stomachache.

Food: None

Tasting: Lost Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Lost Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 60% Shiraz, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: None listed
Country: Argentina
Year: None listed
Price: $4.95

Winery review: It is dry and contains subtle tobacco undertones with a black licorice, cherry, scent. The oak is in the background. Would pair well hamburger or a steak rather than stand alone

My review: This was a very intense wine with a strong earthy taste of tobacco, almost like drinking soil. The finish was extremely bitter as well as long and unpleasant.

Food: None

Tasting: Villa Pozzi Nero

Name: Villa Pozzi Nero
Variety: Nero
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Year: 2010
Price: $8.95

Winery review: Very dark purple, with a reddish-violet edge, typical of this grape. Black plums, a hint of licorice and subtle spice, not overly complex but appealing. A big mouth full of juicy black fruit is well structured by tart acidity and soft but distinct tannins. 

My review: What first struck me about this wine was the soft, earthy smell. There was a hit of white pepper and then a medium-strength apricot finish. 

Food: None

Tasting: Tres Ojos Rose

Name: Tres Ojos Rose
Variety: 50% Tempranillo, 50% Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $1.95

Winery review: This medium rose-colored rosado boasts a spicy red cherry/plum nose with a soft lush attack of red berry fruit flavors and a crisp dry finish. Simple and refreshing and a natural for tapas.

My review: This wine is labeled as a rose but I found it be much more full-bodied, closer to what is usually associated with red wines. With a definite 'zing' factor to it, this wine was spicy with a short finish but no particular smells or flavors really popped out at me.

Food: None

Tasting: Les Perles Piquepoul

Name: Les Perles Piquepoul
Variety: Piquelpoul
Region: Cotes de Thau
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95

Winery review: Light and young, this is a straightforward but enjoyable selection that would be an ideal match for light fare such as grilled chicken salads or fluke. Apple flesh, nectarine, and sweet citrus oil aromasand flavors appear on the nose and palate, while the short finish is infused with a flavor of green melon rind.

My review: This wine is best described as a cross between flavors that I associate with Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer . It is buttery like a Chardonnay yet has a sharp acidic bite more similar to a Gewurztraminer. The finish was definitely fruity but difficult to place exactly what fruit variety or varieties. I would probably try this wine with seafood.

Food: None

Winery Visit: Attimo Winery

On Saturday, February 9, 2013, I drove thirty minutes away to one of Virginia's newest wineries, Attimo Winery in the Christiansburg/Radford area (http://www.attimowinery.com). Having never visited a winery before, I was very disappointed when my friends and I pulled into the driveway as the property was much less picturesque than I had imagined it would be. There were no cottages with plump grapes everywhere like in the movies- it was just a few acres with rows and rows of empty posts in neat lines.

Attimo Winery, Feb. 9,2013

My friends and I in the tasting room at Attimo Winery

The tasting room resembled a large living room with a mismatched array of tables and chairs situated in front of a fireplace. We sat down and were soon approached by a waitress with a bottle of wine, all set to begin our tasting before we even ordered which, luckily for her, was what we planned on ordering. The basic tasting was $5 with an additional $3 charge if you choose to keep the wine glass. Because of the emphasis in class on enjoying wine with food, I suggested that we all order a small dish to accompany our tasting. After ordering a fruit and cheese plate, we dove headfirst into the wines! The following is a list of the eight wines that we tried and my notes on each (in italics):



Yesterday's Song (Chardonnay) "dry white, crisp, lightly oaked, pear notes"
crisp, buttery, salty, pear flavor
Sonnet 98 (Vidal blanc) "dry white, crisp, floral, hints of fresh greens"
notes of pepper and a savory herb I can not quite place
Off-the-Cuff (Riesling/Chardonnay) "semi-sweet white, fruity"
overwhelming berry
Just Kissed Blush (Vidal/Raspberry) "off-dry blush, fruity; distinct berry flavors"
Raspberry and strawberry flavors
After Midnight (Merlot/Zinfandel/Blackberry) "semi-sweet red, fruity flavors; velvety texture"
Smells like a fireplace; tastes explosive, a bit of a cheese flavor, pepper, pineapple and mocha
Bull Frog Symphony (Blend) "dry red blend, peppery, Bordeaux style"
Pepper and cucumber (This was the only one I really did not like)
Deep Silence (Cabernet Franc) "dry red, intense berry flavors and light smoky pepper finish"
Smells like a buttery potato but tastes distinctly of lime and berry; very smooth finish
AD 325 (Chambourcin) "dry red with bold flavors and cherry undertones"
Earthy, minimal sweetness

A glass of Yesterday's Song next to a glass of After Midnight (the fruit/cheese plate was delicious!)

Attimo's Wine list- notice the fake wine stain!

I was particularly interested in how all of the various wines got their names; the waitress was extremely knowledgeable about each of the bottles and the history behind their making. For example, the blush wine, Just Kissed, got its name because the winemaker determined that the color of the wine is similar to the blush or glow that a person-most likely a girl- gets right after being kissed while "Deep Silence" was described to us as a wine that you drink when you just want to be alone and sit in deep silence; such clever names! Unfortunately for us, the winemaker was out of the country learning about new techniques and trends in teh global wine market so the tour of the wine barn that we had planned on taking was not able to happen. As a substitution of sorts, my friends and I talked with the waitress and another staff member about Attimo's process and events planned on the property. They explained that while the winery makes every attempt to utilize grapes that are grown on the property in making their wines, particularly Cabernet Franc (which I learned is the only grape that is truly native to Virginia), Attimo does import grapes from other locations as well as rent land elsewhere to farm. 

'Winemaking Barn' at Attimo Winery

A grape plant in early February at Attimo

Before leaving the property, we decided to take a stroll around. Despite the apparent emptiness, apparently there were grapes growing and they were just underground due to it being the middle of winter! I tried to peek into the winemaking 'barns' (which just looked like greenhouses) but was not able to see much. My overall impression is that Attimo has a lot of promise to become a prestigious Virginia winery based on their high-quality products that will likely improve once their grape plants reach maturity in the coming years! Two critiques that I have: 

-From what I can ascertain, it is quite unusual to experience a wine tasting in a restaurant-like setting where guests are sitting down and are expected to tip their waitstaff
- It seems that Attimo has only one variety of wine glass. After the tastings, we each ordered a glass of one of the wines (I opted for the After Midnight as I am attempting to get more into red wines) and they were all served in the same glass despite them being very different styles. It may be a good idea for the winery to invest in a variety of glasses for guests to fully enjoy the wines in.

We hope to go back to Attimo when the weather gets warmer to sample some of their seasonal wines that were not available during our visit (I am particularly interested in tasting their apple/white blend, "Sudden Downpour" when it becomes available again), finally get a tour of the winemaking process and maybe even participate in one of their murder mystery nights!

My boyfriend and I at Attimo Winery

Tasting: Coltsfoot Winery Blueberry Wine

Name: Coltsfoot Winery Blueberry Wine
Variety: Blueberry Wine
Region: Virginia
Country: USA
Year: None listed
Price: $14.99

Winery review: Plump, juicy blueberries picked at their peak; you'll taste your favorite summertime memories with every sip. Our Blueberry Wine is fruity and peppery with a 'hint' of clove that is long on blueberry flavor. The low acidity makes for a wonderful warm, sweet experience.

My review: I was unsure whether or not I was supposed to chill a fruit wine so I first tried this wine slightly chilled. It smelled like a bag of brown sugar but was VERY alcoholic smelling. Tasting it alongside tortellini, I detected blueberry, cranberry, apple and a very subtle citrus. I left what was left of this bottle(about half) out on the counter for 36 hours (with a rubber stopper) and then went back to it. Served at room temperature without any food, I found it to be much more pleasant/drinkable and had an almost pure blueberry flavor.

Food: I had this one two separate occasions as I purchased the bottle; once without food and then with chicken prosciutto tortellini.

Tasting: Sutter Home Gewurztraminer

Name: Sutter Home Gewurztraminer
Variety: Gewurztraminer 
Region: California
Country: USA 
Year: 2010
Price: $4.99

Winery review: This off-dry wine displays lush, fragrant flavors and aromas of white peaches, lichee fruit, and rose petals, with a complex hint of rich allspice. This wine will pair well with many foods, especially those prepared with sweet or hot flavors, Southwestern and Caribbean cuisines, turkey, chicken, pork roast, or ham.

My review: This wine was the first Gewurztraminer I had ever tried. I found that it possesses notes of apple and apricot and a sharp hit of aleppo pepper. 

Food: None

Tasting: CK Mondavi Moscato

Name: 2011 C K Mondavi Family Vineyards Willow Spring Moscato
Variety: 85% Moscato, 14% Symphony, 1% Other
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $5.99

Winery review: Our Moscato has a floral, fruity nose and ends with a sensation of lemon zest on its finish.

A refreshing before dinner wine and so perfect to add to party punch. Pair with Latin dishes or Asian cuisine. It’s just right for spicy food!

My review: I found this wine to be almost sickeningly sweet with a very syrupy, fruity flavor. I tasted apple and honeysuckle and found it to have a hint of a sparkling quality/carbonation. The winery review suggests that this wine would be good in punch and I would be curious to try either that or in a white sangria. 

Food:I had this both on its own and then with plain potato chips

Tasting: Kiarna Chardonnay

Name: Kiarna California Coastal Series Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $14.99

Winery review: Our cool climate Chardonnay exhibits beautiful bright lemon, lime and green apple aromas. The flavors are similar-melon, apple and a hint of vanilla oak spice from the barrels.

My review: This wine had a very strong fruit flavor and was less dry tasting than many chardonnays I have tried in the past. The flavor that struck me the most was apricot. I found the finish on the wine to be almost buttery.

Food: None