- Opera Prima Sweet Red
- 50% Tempranillo, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
- La Mancha
- Spain
- 2010
- $4.95
- Wine critics say Opera Prima Sweet Red has a soft texture combining sweet black raspberry, cherry. red currant, root beer and sweet tea.
- I found this wine to be very sweet and delicious. My palate especially noticed the cherry and raspberry.
- I did not taste with food.
- Montes Alpha Syrah
- Syrah
- Colchagua Valley
- Chile
- 2009
- $7.95
- Wine critics say Montes Alpha Syrah has blackberry and cola aromas that are accompanied by berry, mint, herb and pepper flavors. As it unwinds, the flavor turns more herbal and roasted. The finish is peppery with spices.
- I found this wine to be earthy and very peppery. The pepper flavor was overbearing and too strong for my palate to handle.
- I did not taste with food.
- Coreto Tinto
- 5 grapes: Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Castelao, Alicante Bouschet, Caladoc
- Lisboa
- Portugal
- 2010
- $6.95
- Wine critics say Coreto Tinto is fruity and full, with the taste of blackberry dominating the warm spice note and acidity. Its soft tannins keep the wine together.
- I found this wine to have a smooth, fruity, and obvious blackberry taste.
- I did not taste with food.
- Maipe Sauvignon Blanc
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Mendoza
- Argentina
- 2011
- $7.95
- Wine critics say this Maipe Sauvignon Blanc is an expressive wine and very aromatic. It displays a grapefruit flavor, with background hints of melon and honey. The finish is acidic, and would best be paired with any seafood, especially shellfish.
- I found this wine to be dry, bland and tarte - one that my palate didn't particularly care for.
- I did not taste with food
- Encostas do Lima
- 80% Loureiro, 20% Trajadura
- Vinho Verde
- Portugal
- 2010
- $4.95
- Wine critics say this Encostas do Lima has floral aromas of peaches, raspberry and honeysuckle. It has a soft and dry, yet fruity medium body and a crisp, tart citrus and acidic accented finish.
- I found this wine to be mildly sweet with fruit notes and a citrus finish.
- I did not taste with food
I learned very quickly that wine and all the different varietals and blends is a taste your palate has to get used to. A couple years ago I tried my first glass of wine - a dry red. Rookie mistake! I didn't enjoy the taste at all. For a while after I didn't try to drink wine again until my Winery Tourism class last year. My friend in class, Megan, told me to start with a lighter, sweeter white wine before moving on to reds. She was right. I tried a few different Moscato white dessert wines as well as a couple different Riesling varietals. I absolutely loved them. One thing that helped my palate get used to drinking wine was Sangria. At first I only enjoyed the white wine Sangria, but I soon fell in love with red wine Sangria. I then decided to give red wines another shot. Now I enjoy the taste of sweeter reds, such as Lambrusco. Up until now, I would only have one or two glasses of wine a month. With my lack of wine knowledge, I haven't bought many bottles. I didn't want to spend money on a bottle if I was unsure I would enjoy it. Usually, I just buy a glass of Riesling or Sangria with dinner when out at a nicer restaurant.
This semester, my goal is to attend at least one wine tasting a week. This way, I can expose my palate to many different varietals and blends each week to discover what flavors my palate enjoys. Once my palate gets used to different blends and varietals, I would like to start purchasing more bottles of wine and having them with an appropriate dinner dish at home.
In Geography of Wine, I hope to learn about vinification, how grapes are turned into wine, as well as viticulture, the growing of grapes. How are grapes grown all around the world, in so many different climates? I'm also interested in learning about the well known wine regions and popular wines in countries such as France, the U.S., Spain, Italy, etc.
Here's to greatly expanding my wine palate and knowledge this semester, with the help of Geography of Wine!
