Due to the high attendance at the wine tasting event Friday last (February 29th) at Discount Tobacco and Wine I am once again compelled to sing their praises. South American wines were featured. My two favorites for the evening were a 2007 Cono Sur Organic Chardonnay from Chile and a 2006 Punto Final Malbec from Argentina. Both were reasonably priced at around ten dollars per bottle.
True to the ongoing theme of Clark County wine tasting there were tasters of all ages and varieties, (over twenty-one). There were beginning tasters, social tasters and a few experts in the room, including the owner, Rich Franklin who deemed himself the "Willy Wonka of Wines" for the night. Possibly because of the afore mentioned generous pour, almost comparable to the everlasting gobstopper.
I saw one taster in his sweats, most in jeans and a few in slacks but the overall impression for the evening was an across the board enjoyment of the wines in a casual atmosphere.
Because themes have not been discussed thus far in the blog I want to list some upcoming events:
March 7: K'Syrah, "First Friday: featuring Zinfandels (5 wines), 5-8 pm $10, dinner $25.00
Salut! Spanish Wines (7 wines) 5-8 pm, $10
Rusty Grape, 4:30-8 pm
Vanc. Gift & Wine Cellar, Argentinean Wines, 6-8 pm, $10
March 8: Rusty Grape, Tasting Room open 12-8
March 14: K'Syrah, Pinot Noir, CA vs. OR, (5 wines), 5-8 pm, $10, dinner $25
Salut! Cost + 10% (18 wines), Friday 5-8 pm $10, Sat. 12-6 pm $5, Sun. 12-5 $5
Rusty Grape, 4:30-8, Live Music!
Vanc. Gift & Wine Cellar, Gooleridge Wines, 6-8 pm, $10
March 15: Rusty Grape, Tasting Room open 12-8
March 19: Salut: Wine 101, 7-9 pm, $35
March 21: Rusty Grape, 4:30-8
Vanc. Gift & Wine Cellar, Gnarly Head Wines, 6-8 pm, $10
March 22: Rusty Grape, Tasting Room open 12-8
March 28: Rusty Grape, 4:30-8
Vanc. Gift & Wine Cellar, Zin Night, 6-8 pm, $10
March 29: Rusty Grape, Tasting Room open 12-8, Italian Wine makers dinner
April 4-6: English Estates, Grand Re-Opening, complimentary wine tasting
To follow: Additional events from Bethany Vineyards and Discount Tobacco & Beverage
Cheers!
Marcie
Just my thoughts
Wine Tasting
Intro
WHAT IS THE IDEAL TEMPERATURE FOR WINE?
Whites: chilled (45-55 degrees F) for a few hours in the refrigerator.Reds: slightly cooler than room temperature (about 65 degrees); Younger fruity reds benefit from chilling. Sparkling Wine: thoroughly chilled; refrigerate several hours or the night before serving.Dessert Wine: room temperature.
Chilling tones down the sweetness of wine. If a red wine becomes too warm, it may lose some of its fruity flavor.
Whites: chilled (45-55 degrees F) for a few hours in the refrigerator.Reds: slightly cooler than room temperature (about 65 degrees); Younger fruity reds benefit from chilling. Sparkling Wine: thoroughly chilled; refrigerate several hours or the night before serving.Dessert Wine: room temperature.
Chilling tones down the sweetness of wine. If a red wine becomes too warm, it may lose some of its fruity flavor.
- 1 grape cluster = 1 glass
- 75 grapes = 1 cluster
- 4 clusters = 1 bottle
- 40 clusters = 1 vine
- 1 vine = 10 bottles
- 1200 clusters = 1 barrel
- 1 barrel = 60 gallons
- 60 gallons = 25 cases
- 30 vines = 1 barrel
- 400 vines = 1 acre
- 1 acre = 5 tons
- 5 tons = 332 cases
The bill for a celebration party for the 55 drafters of the US Constitution was for 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of claret, 8 bottles of whiskey, 22 bottles of port, 8 bottles of hard cider, 12 beers and seven bowls of alcohol punch large enough that "ducks could swim in them."
Why swirl the wine glass? Why smell the wine? Find out here!
Find Out About Aroma's and the Wine Tasting Wheel
REGULAR WINE TASTINGS
- K'SYRAH, tastings and dinner every Friday, 6-8
- BETHANY VINEYARDS, tasting room open Saturdays 11-6
- RUSTY GRAPE VINEYARD, tasting room open Fridays 4:40-8, Sat. 12-8, By appt. Sundays
- VANCOUVER GIFT AND WINE CELLAR, wine tasting on Fridays, 6-8 pm
- DISCOUNT TOBACCO AND BEVERAGE wine tasting on select Fridays, next wine tasting: Date to follow
- CAFE AL DENTE Wine Tasting each Wednesday
- SALUT! Wine Tasting each Friday at both locations, 5-8 pm
Wine Shops in Clark County
Clark County Wineries
Local Restaurants and Bars Featuring Fine Wines
MORE!!
- Sandhill Winery, LaCenter WA
- Wine Alliance of Clark County
- Discount Tobacco and Beverage
GRAPE VARIETALS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS:
SAUVIGNONN BLANC - Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine best known for its grassy, herbal flavors. Sauvignon Blanc is also called Fume Blanc, and is a popular choice for fish and shellfish dishes.
PINOT GRIS (PINOT GRIGIO) - The low acidity of this white varietal helps produce rich, lightly perfumed wines that are often more colorful than other whites. The best ones have pear and spice-cake flavors.
CHARDONNAY - Chardonnay is a white wine which can range from clean and crisp with a hint of varietal flavor to rich and complex oak-aged wines. Chardonnay typically balances fruit, acidity and texture. This varietal goes well with everything from fish and poultry to cheeses, spicy foods and nut sauces.
MUSCAT - The white Muscat grape produces spicy, floral wines that often do something most other wines don't: they actually taste like grapes. Muscats can range from very dry and fresh to sweet and syrupy. This varietal is often served with puddings and chocolate desserts.
GEWURZTRAMINER - Gewurztraminer is a white wine that produces distinctive wines rich in spicy aromas and full flavors, ranging from dry to sweet. Smells and flavors of litchi nuts, gingerbread, vanilla, grapefruit, and honeysuckle come out of this varietal. It is often a popular choice for Asian cuisines and pork-based sausages.
RIESLING - Rieslings are white wines known for their floral perfume. Depending on where they're made, they can be crisp and bone-dry, full-bodied and spicy or luscious and sweet. The flavor is often of peaches, apricots, honey, and apples and pairs well with duck, pork, and roast vegetables.
CHAMPAGNE/SPARKLING WINE - These wines are made effervescent in the wine-making process. Champagnes and sparkling wines range in style from very dry (Natural), dry (brut) and slightly sweet (extra Dry) to sweet (sec and Demi-Sec). Many sparkling wines are also identified as Blanc de Blancs (wines made from white grapes) or Blanc de Noirs (wines produced from red grapes).
PINOT NOIR - Pinot Noir is a red wine of light to medium body and delicate, smooth, rich complexity with earthy aromas. They are less tannic than a cabernet sauvignon or a merlot. Pinot Noirs exude the flavor of baked cherries, plums, mushrooms, cedar, cigars, and chocolate.
ZINFANDEL – Primarily thought of as a Californian varietal (though recently proven to have originated from vineyards in Croatia), Zinfandel is a red wine with light to full body and berry-like or spicy flavors. The Zinfandel grape is also widely used in the popular off-dry blush wine known as White Zinfandel. The Red Zinfandel pairs well with moderately spicy meat dishes and casseroles.
SYRAH (SHIRAZ) - Syrah can produce monumental red wines with strong tannins and complex combinations of flavors including berry, plum and smoke. It's known as Shiraz mainly in Australia and South Africa.
PETITE SIRAH - Petite Sirahs are red wines with firm, robust tannic tastes, often with peppery flavors. Petite Sirahs may complement meals with rich meats.
MERLOT - Merlot is a red wine with medium to full body and herbaceous flavors. Merlot is typically softer in taste than Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s flavors and aromas include blackberry, baked cherries, plums, chocolate, and mocha.
Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Sauvignon is a red wine known for its depth of flavor, aroma and ability to age. It is full-bodied and intense, with cherry- currant and sometimes herbal flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon may have noticeable tannins.
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