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”
Category Archives: Monthly Schedules
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”
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”
March 24-Garnacha
This week I selected Garnacha (known as Grenache everywhere else) from Spain! It is commonly blended with another grape, Tempranillo, in the Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions of Spain (we will visit the Rioja region just in time for BBQing on Memorial Day weekend!). In the Priorat region, Garnacha has risen to excellence asContinue reading “March 24-Garnacha”
March 10-Petite Sirah
Petite Sirah, aka Durif, is a highly tannic, intense red wine grape first identified in France. It is a cross between Syrah and Peloursin (a very obscure grape) in an attempt to develop a variety resistant to powdery mildew. It never gained esteem in France, and now can only legally be grown in one designatedContinue reading “March 10-Petite Sirah”
March 3-Chilean Carmènére
This week, I selected Carmènére (kahr-meh-NEHR), a red wine grape that originated in the Bordeaux region of France but didn’t thrive like more notable varieties, such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In the mid 19th century, a bout of phylloxera (an insect that attacks the roots of wine plants) hit Europe and destroyed virtually allContinue reading “March 3-Chilean Carmènére”
February 17-Port
This week marks our first foray into fortified wines and dessert wines! Port wine comes in an array of styles, some are lighter and dryer, while some are sweeter and aged for prolonged periods of time. Fortified means the fermentation process (the process by which the sugar in the wine grapes is converted into alcohol)Continue reading “February 17-Port”
February 10-Chianti
I am very excited for this week’s wine. Chianti is the wine that was my gateway to red wines. It is acidic and easy to pair with Italian food, which happens to be one of my favorite types of cuisine. Chianti is a wine region in Tuscany, Italy. It is primarily composed of Sangiovese grapes.Continue reading “February 10-Chianti”
February 3-Nero d’Avola
What in the heck is Nero d’Avola? It is a red wine grape from the island of Sicily, Italy. It shares very similar characteristics to Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah. It is high in tannin and alcohol while being fruity and bold. It is a great wine for those who enjoy the Cabernets or Pinots ofContinue reading “February 3-Nero d’Avola”
January 27-Italian Primativo
I selected Primativo this week because Zinfandel is a wonderful variety of grape. Zinfandel’s origins come from Italy, where it is known by the name Primativo. During the gold rush, a good number of Italians immigrated to the West Coast of California and worked in or started wineries. A lot of early, pre-prohibition, zins inContinue reading “January 27-Italian Primativo”
A Trip Around the World of Wine in 52 Weeks 