Montelpulciano can be a bit confusing because there are wines made of Sangiovese (the same grape in Chianti) labelled as Vino de Nobile Montepulciano. The wines made from the red grape Montepulciano are labelled as Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and must consist of a minimum 85% Montepulciano (the remaining portion is commonly Sangiovese). Even more confusing areContinue reading “November 17th-Montepulciano”
Author Archives: Theloosetannin
November 10th-Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo is a red grape that originates in the hills of the Piedmont region in Northern Italy and this is where a vast majority of Nebbiolo grapes are grown around the world. The most famous (and complex) wines made with this grape are Barolo DOCG and Barbaresco DOCG, both typically selling for over $50 perContinue reading “November 10th-Nebbiolo”
November 3rd-Merlot
Merlot (Murr-low) is a red grape originating from the Bordeaux region of France. It is the predominant grape in wines from the Right Bank portion of the area and a supporting grape in the blends from the Left Bank (Cabernet Sauvignon is the predominant grape in these wines. Right Bank vs Left Bank is explainedContinue reading “November 3rd-Merlot”
October 27th-Semillon
Sémillon is a white grape, which again is a grape that originates from France, specifically the Bordeaux region. It is commonly mixed with Sauvignon Blanc in the making of a dessert wine called Sauternes (I will discuss this wine in December). Sémillon is commonly used as a blending grape but when it is made intoContinue reading “October 27th-Semillon”
October 20th-Cotes du Rhone
This week’s topic may seem very familiar but instead of focusing on the white blends from a few weeks ago, this time, we will look at the red blends. The red wines of this region are dominated by Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre (GSM). Grenache (which I discussed way back on March 24th) is a lighterContinue reading “October 20th-Cotes du Rhone”
November Tasting Schedule
With the holiday season just around the corner, let’s continue tasting bold, food friendly wines that will be up for the challenge of pairing with diverse holiday meals! November 3-Merlot November 10th-Nebbiolo November 17th-Montepulciano (not to be confused with Vino de Nobile Montepulciano) November 24th-Beaujolais -TheLooseTannin
October 13th-Lambrusco
Lambrusco is a fruity red wine of varying degrees of sparkling and sugar content. It originates in the food-centric Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, in the northern portion of the country. This area is known for such culinary marvels as Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano Reggiano, Balsamic vinegar from Modena, Mortadella Bologna, and any pasta made withContinue reading “October 13th-Lambrusco”
October 6th-Cotes du Rhone Blanc
This week, I decided to really kick off fall with a heavier style of white wine, Cotes du Rhône Blanc. It is fuller bodied and also tends to be on the hotter side (meaning a higher alcohol content) than most white wines. These wines originate from the northern portion of the Rhône Valley. This areaContinue reading “October 6th-Cotes du Rhone Blanc”
September 29th-Garganega (Soave)
Garganega is a wine grape used to produce one of the most popular styles of white wine exported from Italy, Soave (Swah-vay). It originates in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Garganega can also be blended with Chardonnay and Trebbiano di Soave (and Pinot bianco in DOCG wines), but by law, it must be aContinue reading “September 29th-Garganega (Soave)”
October Tasting Schedule
With the long, warm summer days now a distant memory in the Northern Hemisphere, it is time to migrate to richer, fuller wines as sweater weather moves in! October 6th-Cotes du Rhone Blanc October 13th-Lambrusco October 20th-Cotes du Rhone October 27th-Semillon -TheLooseTannin
A Trip Around the World of Wine in 52 Weeks 