Dinner - A Friend's House (College Themed Potluck)

           A couple of my friends hosted a wine and appetizer party last Thursday night.  Most of the people in attendance are in Boyer's wine class, but we even had a few other wine lovers join us.  There were about 17 of us in all, giving us a bountiful variety of wines and appetizers.  Our wine dinner happened to fall on the day of the unexpected snow storm that ended up closing down the Virginia Tech campus.  However, this did not stop our wine dinner from happening.  We are dedicated wine drinkers (especially on Thursday nights), and obviously we were not going to pass up free food.  So, everyone trudged their way through the snow to our friends house, and my parents took my snow boots home last weekend so that sucked.
           The theme of this wine/dinner tasting was somewhat of a "College Themed Potluck."  You might be wondering what a "College Themed Potluck" entails.  Well, it's our cheap version of a wine/dinner tasting, with a variety of random appetizers and wines.  And did I mention cheap wines?  All the wines were probably under the $10 range, but we really did have a wide variety of wines and foods.

           Among the food items were some Italian style appetizers, such as bruschetta, pasta salad and caprese.  There were cheeses and crackers, breads and chips.  There were a couple different dips, such as a tuna dip, a cheese dip and a mexican style dip.  There were some vegetables and fruits, and even macaroni and cheese.  Then there were desert items, such as cookies and croissants filled with chocolate.  I know cookies aren't the best thing to pair with wines, but that's what I brought (oatmeal chocolate chip and sugar cookies).  I was planing of making something nicer, but the snow storm hit and I couldn't make it to the grocery store, so whatever.  Among the wines, were a variety of reds, whites and a rosé.  Two of the wines that we had in the wine tasting that same day were there, the Veleta Tempranillo and the Cresta Azul.  There were Moscatos, Pinot Grigios, a Cabernet Franc, a Cabernet Sauvignon, and a red blend.  My contribution was Espiral Vinho Verde (from Trader Joe's), currently my favorite type of wine.
           The first wine I tasted was the Cresta Azul.  I had tasted this wine at the wine tasting earlier in the day, and I loved it!  It's a white wine with the variety of Macabeo, Parellada, Zarel-lo, and Moscatel.  This is a refreshing wine, with a crisp finish.  It tastes of peaches and vanilla, with a slight creaminess.  I paired this wine with the cheese, crackers and tuna spread.  The refreshing, clean taste of this wine is why I paired it with the cheese and tuna spread.  The cheese brought out the acidity in the wine and made it more crisp.  I figured this wine would pair nicely with seafood and I was correct.  The tuna spread brought out the refreshing, peachy taste in the wine, and actually made it taste sweeter.  In the future, I would pair this wine with some sort of fish.
           The second wine I tasted was the Veleta Tempranillo, which I had also had at the wine tasting earlier in the day.  I really enjoyed this Tempranillo earlier in the day, and the food pairings made the taste stand out even more.  This Tempranillo from Spain is smooth, acidic, and slightly spicy.  It tasted like pomegranate and fresh berries.  I paired this wine with the pasta salad.  I figured the italian dressing in the pasta salad would bring out the spices in this wine.  The pasta salad did in fact bring out the spices in the Tempranillo; however, I think it might have been a little too much for my taste buds.  This might have been because pasta salad might not be the best thing to pair with wine.  It overpowered the flavor of the wine, and toned down the smooth, slightly fruity taste.  Next time I would pair this wine with a meat, such as steak or lamb.
           The next wine I tasted was the Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio.  This is a very cheap Pinot Grigio, so I wasn't expecting much.  However, I really like Pinot Grigio, so I sucked it up.  Overall, it wasn't a bad cheap Pinot Grigio.  It was very smooth and tasted of tropical fruits.  I paired this wine with the caprese.  The caprese was mozzarella, a tomato, basil, and balsamic vinaigrette on top of a slice of bread.  The subtle taste of the Pinot Grigio was brought out by the caprese, specifically the balsamic vinaigrette.  It toned up the acidity and the crispness.  I liked this food pairing, but would also pair the Pinot Grigio with a fish or chicken.
           Lastly, I drank my Espiral Vinho Verde wine.  This Vinho Verde wine it from Portugal and is of the Alvarinho variety.  It is light, fruity and crisp, with a little bit of bubbly.  I drank this wine with the macaroni and cheese, but mainly because I just wanted to finish the bottle, not because I thought they would pair well together.  Boyer told us to always finish a bottle of wine once you open it.  The mac and cheese did nothing for the wine, and probably actually made it taste worse.  So, I ended up eating them separately.  Vinho Verde tends to pair nicely with seafood and light appetizers.
           Ultimately, I learned a lot from this wine dinner.  I learned that the flavors and tastes of the wine are different when pairing them with different foods.  In addition, the food brings out flavors in the wine that I didn't notice when drinking the wine without food, and vice versa.  The wine gave the food more savour to its taste, as well as added spiciness.  It was kind of a guessing game while trying to pair the wine with the food, and I really need more practice in that department.  We are definitely going to do this wine dinner party again in order to try even more wine and food pairings.  I am excited for all the possibilities!

Tasting - Ruta 22 Malbec

Name: Ruta 22 Malbec
Variety: Malbec
Region: Patagonia
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95

Critic Review:  "Stout and dense from the beginning, with blackberry and violet aromas. Despite being a bold and dark Malbec, this is fresh and composed, with sweet blackberry and cassis flavors. Good on the finish, with candied fruit and caramel sweetness."

My Review:  This Malbec wine did not have a pleasant smell.  It smelled way too much like hard liquor.  The taste was not very good either.  I could taste too much alcohol in this wine, and it was overpowering the other tastes.  I could taste a hint of blackberry and tartness, but the bitter and strong alcohol taste was too much for me to handle.

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Chateau Serres Sainte Lucie Corbieres

Name: Chateau Serres Sainte Lucie Corbieres
Variety: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre
Region: Corbieres
Country: France
Year: 2010
Price: $4.95

Critic Review:  "Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre. Superb dark garnet color with a few reflections of dark orange. Intense nose of ripe fruits, spices, and roasted coffee. The palate is rounded and full, with silky matured tannins and hints of vanilla. This wine is rich and powerful with layers of tannins."

My Review:  This was a very interesting wine because the smell was awful, but I actually enjoyed the taste.  Right away, this wine smelled very revolting.  It smelled like bad breath and barnyard.  However, this wine actually tasted very pleasant, kind of like oranges and berries.  It was very smooth and had a good balance of spices and tannins.  It even had a very good after-taste.  I was very surprised by this good tasting wine since the smell was so disgusting.

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Cresta Azul

Name: Cresta Azul
Variety: Moscatel, Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo
Region: Catalunya
Country: Spain
Year: NV
Price: $5.95

Critic Review:  "Moscatel, Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo. Peach, orange cream and vanilla flavors mingle in this softly bubbly white. Off-dry, but with crisp acidity and a clean finish."

My Review:  This wine smelled nicely of peaches and vanilla.  However, the taste was a little different.  I could taste vanilla, and a little bit of a peaches n' cream taste.  It was not bitter or tart at all, but rather crisp, sweet, and even a little bubbly.  I really enjoyed this wine, probably because it tasted like a Vinho Verde (my favorite type of wine right now), but it didn't have as much punch as a Vinho Verde.

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Veleta Tempranillo Rosé

Name: Veleta Tempranillo Rosé
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: Granada
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $3.95

Critic Review:  "Fresh in flavor and crisp in texture, this dry rosé offers berry, tart cherry and light herbal flavors, with firm acidity and a clean finish. Focused and juicy."

My Review:  This wine had an aroma of fresh fruit and pomegranate.  The taste was smooth and acidic, and slightly spicy.  I could taste fresh berries, with a splash of pomegranate.  I enjoyed this wine enough to buy a bottle.

I tasted this wine without food.

Tasting - Veleta Brut Vino Espumoso Rosado

Name: Veleta Brut Vino Espumoso Rosado

Variety: Sparkling Brut Blend

Region: Grenada

Country: Spain

Year: NV

Price: $3.95

Critic Review:  "Rosé salmon with copper reflections. Slow rising fine bubble that forms “lace” and “rosary”. In the nose is complex and elegant with red fruit, citric, exotic, fresh flowers, and notes of dry fruits and dry flowers. Fresh, gentle, and alive. Perfectly integrated “perlage” with serious and subtle flavors of dry fruits, pomegranate and lemonade. Long lasting scent of flowers and herbs."

My Review:  This wine smelled very freshly of fruits and roses.  The taste was very subtle and refreshing.  It was a little tart, but also sweet.  So, to me, it kind of tasted like sour patch kids.  I enjoyed this wine and would drink it again, especially on a hot summer day.

I tasted this wine without food.

Movie Review - "Blood into Wine"

            We watched the movie Blood into Wine in my Geography of Wine class.  Professor Boyer claimed this movie was his favorite documentary wine film, and I soon realized why.  When I first heard that we were watching a “wine documentary,” I could not figure out how a film dedicated solely to the winemaking process could be entertaining.  For some reason, I thought it would be boring and mundanely educational.  However, I was definitely wrong about what type of film this was.  Blood into Wine turned out to be an enjoyable, and even comical, documentary about Maynard James Keenan and Eric Glomski, and their Caduceus brand wine out of Arizona.  Directed by Christopher Pomerenke and Ryan Page, Blood into Wine is a must-watch film for young or beginner wine lovers.

            Maynard James Keenan, the lead singer of the heavy metal rock band Tool, and his business partner Eric Glomski team up to create a winery.  Maynard becomes extremely interested in winemaking during his rock tours in Europe, the land of wine.  Maynard returned to the United States, and settled down in Phoenix, Arizona.  He started studying the winemaking industry and found Eric Glomski, whom had experience working in the wine business.  After some research, they started growing grapes in Verde Valley of Northern Arizona.  The film then goes on to document the initial wine growing process that Maynard and Glomski went through when starting their wine business, Caduceus Cellar.  It shows the audience the ups and downs of growing wine in Arizona.  The film also follows Maynard and Glomski as they attend autograph signings during wine presentations, and it shows wine tastings at the Caduceus wine store.  Famous wine critic, James Suckling, even appeared in the film to critique the Caduceus wine.           

            Throughout the film, we experience some comedic relief from comedians Patton Oswalt and Bob Odenkirk.  They “interview” Maynard through what I’m pretty sure was a made-up show.  They joke about him being a merely “D-list” celebrity, and mock his wine business and “disgusting” wine, even though they end up getting hilariously drunk.  Maynard also provides some humor, mostly through his very sarcastic and biting personality.  He is a very smart and polite person, but the film depicts his bottled up anger, possibly from his rocker days.  Personally, I think the wine business, although stressful, is actually having a relaxing and calming effect on Maynard.

            Maynard began studying wine in 1999, and soon after finding his business partner, Glomski, they began growing grapes in the unusual area of northern Arizona.  The early problems Maynard and Glomski faced where mostly due to the initial grape growing period.  Like most wineries, the first batch of grapes makes it or breaks it.  They needed a successful season of grapes, or they would have wasted a lot of money, time and effort.  Maynard himself gets down, dirty and involved in the grape growing process.  Luckily, they ended up producing a good batch of grapes, and named their vineyard Merkin Vineyard.  They then experimented with the grapes in order to perfect their uniquely tasting wine.

            There are two main points that the film wants the audience to follow.  The first intention of the film is to highlight Maynard’s duel personalities.  One lifestyle portrays is his “rocker” personality, and the other his “winemaker” personality.  Many people are in disbelief when they hear that Maynard is a winemaker as well as the lead singer of a heavy metal rock band.  These two professions do not usually mix or work together...at all.  However, Maynard specifically explains in this film that he was never keen on the “rockstar” lifestyle.  He favored a life away from the sex, drugs and rock and roll, and much preferred the winemaker lifestyle free from fame.  Many of his rock fans show up at his wine tastings and signings, and Maynard shows them his winemaker side of life.  Maynard is actually very serious about his winemaking, and this is seen through his winemaker personality.  Maynard even says he prefers the winemaking business to the rocker business, and he does not regret giving up his rocker lifestyle for the winemaker lifestyle.

            The second main point of this documentary is to show the audience that Arizona is an up and coming wine making state.  The audience gets to experience the vast, beautiful desert scenery known to Arizona.  Maynard and Glomski started their lush vineyard on a stretch of land in arid Arizona, in the Verde Valley.  The stretch of Arizona land is actually a desert, and not a place someone would think to plant grapes or make wine.  The Arizona desert landscape is not a typical environment for the winemaking business.  However, this documentary shows the audience that Arizona can actually produce some great wine; some may say it’s on par with California wine.  I don’t exactly remember which grapes were grown at Merkin Vineyards, but James Suckling tasted Maynard’s Cabernet Sauvignon, which he dedicated to his late mother, and gave it a favorable review.

            I would definitely recommend this film to a wine audience.  In addition, I would recommend this film to anyone at all because it might make someone interested in wine.  It highlights the up and coming wine industry in the unlikely state of Arizona, but not in a dragging educational fashion.  Oswalt and Odenkirk, and even the dry humor of Maynard, bring the comedic punch to this fascinating documentary.  Rocker Maynard, and the mostly forgotten about Glomski, make this film delightfully interesting and relatable by their unlikely business relationship.  This isn’t a typical clean-cut, sophisticated film about wine.  Some film critics claim this film is very sporadic, unfocused and random.  Well...duh.  The film is about a rocker turned winemaker, and that is pretty random.  Blood into Wine will not disappoint anyone looking for an out-of-the-ordinary wine film experience.