Zeppolis Wine Dinner on April 15th

My friend and I at dinner.

Today I went to a wine pairing dinner with two of two of my good friends. It was at Zeppolis, a restaurant in Blacksburg, Virginia. This is where I went for the last food and wine pairing. I enjoyed that wine tasting and I was sure that I would love this one. In the end I was very impressed with the variety of the wine tastes as well as the food being served with them.

At Zeppolis we tried 9 different wines, 4 whites and 5 reds. The waiter/the person running the dinner did not have a themed dinner. It was just a bunch of different food types with the different wines that he thought would pair well with the wines being served. The wines tasted ranged from old world wines to new world wines. While he was serving wine he talked about different types of things that relate to wine, such as different bottle styles as well as peoples different tastes in wines.

The selection of wines tasted.

Below are the description given to us and then my thoughts on the different wines with the different types of food that was available.

The white wines.

White Wines

Muscanti NV Brut Sparkling Wine Penedes Spain
Lemon blossoms, green apple, toast and honeydew melon are front and center in this crisp refreshing Spanish Sparkler. Silky supple with lingering flavors, yet a tingle of crisp acid on the finish. A combination of traditional cava grapes but this wine is not made in the traditional methode champenoise (which is required by Spanish law to be called Cava). This is made with the Charmat process and may only be called 'Spanish sparkling wine'. [$7.50 and Alcohol: 11.5%]
My thoughts: This wine was very dry! I normally never get Brut sparkling wines (or champagnes) for this reason.  I thought the wine itself was very well crafted and I thought it went well with much of the lighter foods. It had tastes of the fruits, the main one that I tasted was apples. It went well with the cheese and crackers as well as the fruit. I think this would go very well with different types of fruit.

Mars and Venus Chardonnay 2006 Central Valley Chile
This Chardonnay is juicy and fresh with pineapple and citrus notes and a silky smooth texture. Serve it with roasted Chicken, Shellfish or pasta dishes in a light cream sauce. [$8.99 and Alcohol: 13.5%]
My thoughts: This wine was very good. It had a very light fresh taste to it. It went well with the white sauce pasta and the pesto on bread. I can see this wine being paired with anything from white sauce pastas to salads with light dressings.

Rubus 2009 Chardonnay Russian River Valley California
This wine has hints of tropical fruit, pear and New Town ripened apples. The wine is barrel fermented, but not overly and is balanced just like a Joe Swann or Sonoma-Cutrer wine. This is Chardonnay for the lover of white burgundy-flavorful, balanced and delicious. [$11.99 and Alcohol: 13.9%]
My thoughts: The first thing that I noticed about his wine is how much darker is was than the other chardonnay that we just had. I could also smell an oak flavor to it. I thought this wine was pretty much good with everything! It was good with the red sauce, but I do not think that I would ever pair this wine with a red sauce again. I have to say that it was great with all the cheeses and the white sauce pasta.

Borealis 2010 "The Northern Whites" Willamette Valley
The aroma practically covers the full fruit spectrum with notes of papaya, quince, yellow apple and hints of grapefruit and lime made all the more exotic with whiffs of jasmine and sandlewood. On the palate it starts with a slightly sweet expression of ripe fruit with a crisp acid balance and evolves to a delicious fresh finish of grapefruit and lime. [$12.99 and Alcohol: 11.5%]
My thoughts: This wine had a very different taste to it. The light crisp taste. It was also very good with the lighter food. My favorite with the wine was the pesto on the bread. I think this wine would pair well with a lot of different foods.

The red wines.

Red Wines

San Elias 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
 "This wine has a nice purple color and the bouquet practically jumps from the glass; smoky, meaty notes; soon ripe cassis and black cherry emerge; the palate is similar, with the fruit taking the lead; nice tannin and acidity perk the fruit up again near the finish, which is crisp yet lingering. A top value." - Beverage Dynamics (Jan/Feb. 10), 88 pts [$7.99 and Alcohol: 13.5%]
My thoughts: When I smelled this wine I was not sure if I was going to like it. It was one of the of those wine that I would have passed up at any other place because of the smell. Upon trying the wine I realized that it is actually a very smooth wine and tasted really good. I like it with the red pasta sauce, and I can see it being paired with a nice steak. But I am not sure if I would ever buy it because of the smell.

Kenwood 2009 Yulupa Cabernet Sauvignon California
83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot. Deep in color with rich, ripe fruit aromas of cherries and plums followed by fragrant notes of cinnamon and cocoa nibs. Full-bodied, with a rich lingering finish. Aged 20 months in French and American oak. Delicious with any pork, beef or lamb, this Cabernet Sauvignon also pairs wells with a variety of pasta dishes. [$11.99 and Alcohol: 13.5%]
My thoughts: This wine had a very good taste. It had nice oak flavorings that were not overwhelming. I tried this with the ravioli and the salad and I thought it paired well with both. I liked the different meats on the salads, it made the red wine really pair well with the flavoring of a salad.

Rubus 2009 Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi, California
Rude red in color, with red fruit, raspberry, and spice on the nose. This wine is medium in body, with notes of ripe cherry, cedar box, cinnamon, anise, black pepper, and hint of smoke on the palate. It has a long, silky finish. [$12.99 and Alcohol: 14.4%]
My thoughts: This wine had a very fruity taste to it. I could taste the wood flavoring to it, it was different because it was not aged in wood but still had a wood taste to it. Unlike most zinfandel, in which I would pair with heavy food, I would only pair this with lighter food. I thought the ravioli was almost too heavy for this wine. It was also good with the salad and crackers.

Mars and Venus Merlot 2007 Central Valley Chile
Smooth, rich and well balanced with berry and cocoa flavors framed by a sturdy structure-a real wine drinker's Merlot. It is perfect with pizza, pasta or even a good Steak!! [$8.99 and Alcohol: 13.5%]
My thoughts: This wine was not my favorite. It was still good with most foods. I don't very much agree with the description of it being prefect with pizza and pasta. It just did not seem like the best wine for some of the sauces that could be used in making those dishes. I would call this a 'safe' wine, as in it pairs well with everything but it may not be the best for all types of food.

Trentadue 2009 Block 500 Merlot Sonoma County California
96% Merlot, 1% Montepulciano, 1% Cabernet Savignon, 1% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot. The wine's characteristics are typical to the Estate fruit with aromas and flavors of dark stone fruit, black licorice and earth. Further aeration reveals layers of blackberry, herbs, cedar and tobacco. On the mouth the wine is complex and full-bodied with ripe, balanced tannins, a juicy middle and long smooth finish. The low pH and tannin structure will support several years of again. [$18.99 and Alcohol: 14.6%]
My thoughts: This wine was good. Again, not my favorite of the group. I unfortunately did not get to try this with a lot of the food because by the time I was given this wine I had ate most of the different foods on my plate. I can image that this food would be good with the classic red wine foods. I think that it would go really well with some of the lighter red meats.

Plates after we were done eating.

Wine Pairing Dinner at Zeppolis (Italy)

Today I went to a wine pairing dinner with two of my roommates and good friend Sonia. It was at Zeppolis, a restaurant in Blacksburg, Virginia that is know to serve very good meals that pair well with wines. I was very excited to try this opportunity because normally when I eat wine with a meal I try to guess which type of wine will go best with the food I want to cook.

Some food tasted.

At Zeppolis we tried 9 different wines, 4 whites and 5 reds. The waiter/the person running the dinner had kinda  theme to the dinner. He wanted us to try wines of the same grape variety, but not tell us which wine it was, the alcohol content, and the price. He wanted us to try to guess the differences in the wines just by using what we know about wines. After the first set of wines it was a little easier to taste the differences but it really made me realize how much I have learned from trying different wines. All the wines tasted are from Italy and the food was themed to be more Italian dishes.

Below are the description given to us and then my thoughts on the different wines with the different types of food that was available.

The selection of wines tasted.

Whites:

White wine tasted.

Fossi Bianco White Table Wine: An inexpensive crisp, fruity Italian white that is very drinkable. It is light, refreshing, and easy to enjoy. From outstanding Chianti producer Andrea Fossi, there is a lot of quality in the bottle for this price. Excellent for a big gathering. Light bodied, green apple and citrus undertones, crisp clean finish. [ $6.99, 11.5% Alcohol]
My Thoughts: This is a very good wine. It is very light and refreshing, I can see why this is a table wine. The subtle flavors taste like they would pair well with anything that would be ordered, as long as it was not a heavy red meat. It seems to be paired well with the Italian pasta salad, the garlic bread, and the cheese.

La Fiera 2010 Pinot Grigio Veneto: It has straw color with a fruity bouquet filled with apples and pears. The palate is dry, soft and well balanced with a lingering acidity. Exhibits ripe peach and apple flavors with a pleasing mineral finish, perfectly suited as a delightful aperitif or served alongside salads, frilled chicken and seafood. Since 1928, the Botter family has been producing wines under environmentally friendly policies and with innovation production techniques and technologies. [$7.99, 12% Alcohol]
My Thoughts: Part of the blind tasting with the Nal Margried Pinot Grigio (below). I did not like the taste of this wine. I thought it was very bland, and it did not seem to pair well with much of the food.

Nals Margried 2010 Pinot Grigio Alto Adige: Here is a Pinot Grigio (of which 30% see contact with oak) with a rich, creamy mouth feel and compelling aromas of yellow fruit and Golden Delicious apple. The wine is thick and slightly oily on the finish. Lively, refreshing and seems to have an Alpine purity. Nicely defined on the palate showing pear, melon, tangy lemon curd, and a Fruity Finish. [$14.99, 14% Alcohol]
My Thoughts: This wine was tasted first in the blind tasting (with the La Fiera Pinot Grigio). You could tell that this wine was darker than the second just by looking at the colors as they were served. I thought this wine was very crisp and tart. The acidity comes though a little, but it was expected. It was very good with the salad, pasta salad and the bread.

Lodali 2011 Moscato D'Asti: A delightfully aromatic wine, with loads of fresh fruit flavors bursting from the glass. It is sweet, but beautifully balanced by the wine's effervescence and acidity. Being Frizzante, it has only about half the effervescence of a sparkling wine, and is hard to resist. The wine makes a wonderful accompaniment to many desserts, especially those made with fruit such as peach, pear, apple and berries. [$12.99, 5.5% Alcohol]
My Thoughts: This is definitely a desert wine. It was very sweet, I am not the biggest fan of moscatos because of how sweet they are. The wine did not pair with much, just the cheeses, which can be served with desert. It was not too bad with the salad, but it was not something that I can see myself drinking a lot of with any other food besides deserts.

Reds:

Red wine tasted.

Luca Primitivo del Salento Puglia: From the easternmost part of Italy (the heel), and one of the most prolific wine producing areas since Phoenician times, the Primitivo grape produces rich, dark, fruity wine of distinctive character. Known as the father of Zinfandel, this wine shows similar qualities without the "jammy" mouth feel of the California style; a pronounced vinuous quality is readily apparent on the nose, followed by a collage of flavors. Bright plums and burnt cherries are complimented by pepper spice and laced with mineral notes. A full-bodied wine, great with barbequed meats, roasts, game, and hearty pasta sauces. [$8.99, 13% Alcohol]
My Thoughts: This wine was done as a blind taste testing with the SUD Primitivo Puglia (below). The color of this wine was very dark red. The smell was a mix of alcohol and some plums, which did not make the best combination. Because of the smell I didn't think it was going to pair well with any of the food. It was a little dry. The only food that it paired well with was the red-sauce pasta.

SUD 2010 Primitivo Puglia: Feudi di San Marzano's 2010 Privative Puglia Salento cuts a handsome appearance in the glass. It wears a deep purple robe that is imbued with fiery glints of ruby. More importantly, it offers an intense aromatic profile of plum, cherry, herb, vanilla, and spices that caress the nose. On the palate, the wine continues to work its magic by spreading plush fruit and herb driven flavors to fill the mouth. Coupled with the wine's bright fruit is a balanced minerality that adds both interest and vibrancy. [$11.99, 13.5% Alcohol]
My Thoughts: The smell of this wine was a lot better than the Luca Primitivo. You could taste a lot more of the spices in this wine. I thought it was a much better constructed wine than the other Primitivo. It tasted very good with the chicken in the salad, but I could tell it was meant more for a red meat dinner.

Morli Neri 2009 Sangiovese and Chianti DOCG: This is beautifully traditional Sangiovese and Chianti with great compatibility with food. It has a dried-cherry nose and burst of plummy jam on the palate. It has a soft bouquet and long lasting aroma. This medium bodied, earthy red is wonderful with red-sause based foods such as pizza, pasta, and lasagna. [$9.99, 12.5% Alcohol]
My Thoughts: This was part of a blind tasting with the Bibi Graetz Casamata Toscana (below). This wine is very good. I have actually had this wine before in Italy, but did not know what type of wine it was then. When I was in Italy I had it with a pizza dinner, it was the house wine. It is a wine that I would love to pair with any type of red-sause food, for example pizza or pasta. I was able to tell that this was made for an Italian palate (partly because I have had it before)

Bibi Graetz 2010 Casamata Toscana: Casamatta (meaning Crazy Horse!) is 100% Sangiovese pure blend from various Tuscan microclimates which reconfirms the exceptional nature of this territory. Smooth and rich, the wine displays all the classic qualities of the varietal with ripe red currant, earthy tannins, and hints of licorice. It is easy to drink, great with food or just by the glass, and sure to please. An unbelievable bargain too! [$12.99, 12% Alcohol]
My Thoughts: Compared to the other Sangiovese wine, I thought this wine was very dark in color. I could pick with wine this was while tasting it because I could pick out the licorice flavoring. The taste was much drier, and I was able to taste the tannins in the wine as well. I think it would be paired well with red meat instead of red-sause food, as with the other wine.

Lodali 2009 Nebbiolo D'Alba Sant Ambrogrio: Aged 12 months in French and Slovenian oak barrels and 3 months in bottle. The color is bright ruby red with shades of garnet, and the aroma is subtle and lingering, with hints of florality and licorice. The flavor is full and well-rounded, long-lasting and harmonious. Pairs well with pasta and vegetables, game birds, roast meats and cheese. [$17.99, 13.5% Alcohol]
My Thoughts: When I smelled this wine I could smell some of the oak flavoring and flowers but it was very subtle like described. Out of all the wines tasted today I was my favorite. I think it paired well with a lot of the food (the pasta salad, the red-sause pasta, and the garlic bread just to name of few). It had a very full body, and the lingering taste was very pleasant and not overwhelming.


Overall it was a good experience and I can't wait to try different foods and wine pairings.

Rosenblum Desiree - Chocolate Port

Name: Rosenblum Desiree
Variety: Chocolate Port
Region: California
Country: USA
Price: $35.00 -> $16.95

Winery Review: Our Desiree Chocolate Dessert Wine is crafted in a rich, tawny port style with heady, dark fruit and enticing chocolate character. On the nose, chocolate, vanilla and coconut aromas swirl around a rich fruit core, spilling forward through the senses and across the palate. Seductive and smooth, this wine borrows its name from the deep emotion it elicits: desire.

My Review:I really didn't like the smell of this wine. It didn't sit right, and I was very hesitant about trying this type of wine. When I tried it I did not like it at all. The color of the wine is very brown in color. It tastes like chocolate licorice and chocolate. It is very sweet.

Girard - Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Girard
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Napa Valley (California)
Country: USA
Year: 2009
Price: $30.00 -> $14.95

Winery Review: Showcases the forward, ripe fruit and fine, polished tannins for which the Napa Valley is most prized. The initial aromatic notes are of ripe red fruit and spicy oak. The flavors on the lush palate follow suit, while the finish underscores the high quality of the fruit from which the wine was made. Enjoy it now, but know that this Cabernet will continue to improve with proper aging for another 8 to 12 years.

My Review: This is a very excellent wine. The color is very dark, and intriguing. When I smelled this wine I could almost tell by the flavors that this would be great with wine. The flavors of the wines are very good. It has a hint of dry towards the end. I think this wine would pair well with steaks, in fact I really want to try this wine with steak and would recommend it to anyone that needs a wine to go with steak.

Vidal Fleurie - Cotes du Rhone

Name: Vidal Fleurie
Variety: Cotes du Rhone
Region: Cotes du Rhone
Country: France
Price: $16.00 -> $10.95

Winery Review: Brilliant garnet red color. Red fruits and spices on the nose. The mouth reveals rounded tannins (thanks to the stay in the oak barrels), a warm and full-bodied wine with an uncommon and lasting aromatic intensity. The proof that Cotes-du-Rhone can be a serious and elegant wine.

My Review: The wine has a slight pepper smell. Once I tasted the wine the only thing that I could taste was pepper. There is not much other taste to the wine, it is a very bland wine. It says that the wine was aged in oak but I was not able to taste the oak or tannin flavors. It was a little dry, but not overly dry. I would not recommend this wine to anyone that wants to try it.

Villa Pozi - Nero d'Avola

Name: Villa Pozi
Variety: Nero d'Avola
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Very dark purple, with a reddish-violet edge, typical of this grape. Black plums, a hint of licorice and subtle spice, not overly complex but appealing. A big mouth full of juicy black fruit is well structured by tart acidity and soft but distinct tannins. Quite a wine for well under $10, and is offers some reason to believe it will cellar well.

My Review: This wine smells like spices. The wine has a very dark red color to it, very appealing to the eye. When I tasted it the spices came through too. It was a little bit too spicy for my tastes. I could also taste a hint of smokiness and licorice. It is a very different type of red wine, and I would like to try more of them.

Villa Pozi - Pinot Grigio

Name: Villa Pozi
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Clear to light straw colored, this Pinot Grigio exhibits soft aromatic flavors of perfumed rose and soft honeysuckle that are attractive and indicative of the refreshing and rounded fruit style. The structure of this wine is well balanced and clean. Wonderfully a complemented by a firm and crisp acidic finish.

My Review: The wine smells very flowery, I could smell the honeysuckle sent in the wine. The taste of the wine is also very flowery. It is also a very light wine with a slight acidic taste. The taste of this wine does not linger too long in your mouth. It is a very good wine but not my type of pinot grigio.