Theloosetannin

May 26-Rioja

I selected Rioja for this week, as we head into Memorial Day weekend, and the barbeque season officially begins for the summer! Rioja is one of a few wines that pairs great with steaks, ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and sausages. Rioja is a region in north central Spain. The wines produced in this region areContinue reading “May 26-Rioja”

June Tasting Schedule

With May ending, June beginning, summer is just around the corner! The mild spring temperatures are about to giveway to scorching summer heat, which means the wines are continuing to lighten up also! One of these is not my favorite, but I will give it another college try! Please tell me which you think itContinue reading “June Tasting Schedule”

May 19-Rias Baixas Albariño

As we continue on with the light, warmer weather wines, we find Albariño from the Rias Baixas region in Northwestern Spain. The area is known for its green lush vegetation and rainfall. Rainfall can be extremely problematic for wine grapes because it can cause mold and mildew that ruins crops but the region has adaptedContinue reading “May 19-Rias Baixas Albariño”

May 12-Pinot Gris

I’m certain most of you have heard, if not tasted Pinot Grigio, as it is quite common at the grocery store. Slightly less common is Pinot Gris. Is there a difference between these two or are they the same just labeled slightly different? While they do originate from the same grape, Pinot Gris, as itContinue reading “May 12-Pinot Gris”

May 5th-South African Chenin Blanc

The Chenin Blanc grape originated in the Loire Valley of France, which was surpassed in production by South Africa. In South Africa, it can also go by the name Steen. The wines that are produced in South Africa tend to taste like riper stone fruits (peaches, apricots, etc), and even a touch tropical, when comparedContinue reading “May 5th-South African Chenin Blanc”

April 28-California Chardonnay

This week I selected the chardonnay from California because this grape varietal from California commonly presents with a rich, buttery texture (from a chemical process it typically undergoes) and a touch of woodiness from the new French oak used to age it. This differs from French Chardonnay because those are usually crisp and acidic. American ChardonnayContinue reading “April 28-California Chardonnay”

April 21-Assyrtiko

It’s Greek Week on the blog! The last week has been absolutely gorgeous in the Pacific Northwest so opening a bottle of Assyrtiko (ah-SEER-tee-koh) was perfect! A few years ago, I was drinking my way through the Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil and found this gem! I am very fond of the wines of DomaineContinue reading “April 21-Assyrtiko”

May Schedule

May is just around the corner and that means Summer isn’t far behind! Warm weather, longer days, and outdoor cooking all call for wine! This month is the primer for all of these wonderful things! May 5-South African Chenin Blanc May 12-Pinot Gris (Not Grigio) May 19-Rias Biaxes Albariño May 26-Red Rioja -TheLooseTannin

April 14-Cabernet Franc

This week, we will be exploring the grape Cabernet Franc! Cab Franc is a parent of more famous Cabernet Sauvignon. It is another of those grapes we refer to as ‘Bordeaux varietals’ because it is approved by French wine officials to be grown in the Bordeaux region. While this grape is commonly blended with otherContinue reading “April 14-Cabernet Franc”

April 7-Alsatian Gewürztraminer

Gewürztraminer (guh-VERT-strah-mee-nr) from the Alsace region of France is this week’s pick! For those that love sweeter wines, here’s your chance, and for those that are opposed, maybe learning some food pairing options will change your way of thinking! The reason I specified Alsace is because it is the only well known region that widelyContinue reading “April 7-Alsatian Gewürztraminer”