Love at First Taste- Petite Sirah

     I had the opportunity to be a wine and cheese server at a venue a few days ago. It was a wonderful experience and I learned even more about wine. In total, there were 7 wines and numerous cheeses. One wine stood out among the rest- the Petite Sirah from Bogle Vineyards. Smooth, easy, soft jammy notes, and a great finish, this wine played a sweet melody on my taste buds. I was in heaven. Especially for someone who is still testing the waters with red wines, I found this one very easy to drink and it paired amazingly well with a toscano cheese. The cheese coated the mouth leaving the fruity notes of the wine exposed- something I value in a wine. This Petite Sirah also paired well with Gouda- one of my favorite cheeses of all time. This wine was not overpowering and did not leave much of an after taste. To the nose, you can definitely detect hints of plum and black current; this is a juicy wine. 

     Resveratrol is the "good stuff" found in the red skin of grapes that has the health benefits that we all hear about. Cancer-fighting, anti-inflamatory, blood-sugar lowering affects have been linked to resveratorl, hence, why everyone wants to drink red wine now. Interestingly enough, I found that the Petite Sirah is among the red grapes that has the highest amount of resveratrol, according to FrenchScout.com. Other red varietals with a lot of resveratrol include: malbec, pinot noir (another favorite) and st. laurent. This wine has been dubbed my "post-workout" wine. In fact, I had a 1/3 a glass of it last night after yoga and paired it with Gouda again. I always make sure to follow my small glass of wine with A LOT of water after a workout but the health benefits of wine make it a good post workout drink (in moderation). As with most red wines, this one pairs well with meaty dishes- I plan on trying it with spaghetti with meat sauce later in the week.

      Overall, I would buy this wine again. This was my first Petite Sirah and I was impressed. The wine was not too earthy or oaky (I prefer Cabernet Sauvignon's to taste like that) but was more on the fruity side and full-bodied. A good wine for a good price. If you are like me and uneasy about overly bold, thick red wines, you should try this one. Below are its pairings: 

source:tayloreason.com

Hue: Red
Bogle Vineyards
Petite Sirah 2009, California
Around $10- great buy!

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Tunes:

1. Paradise Circus
-Massive Attack (because Massive Attack is amazing)

2. Lord Help the Poor and Needy
-Cat Power (because her raspy voice is soothing and relaxing as all get out)

Virginia is for Donald Trump

     When I first heard of Donald Trump buying a winery in Virginia, I was not surprised. Virginia is a beautifully wonderful state, full of rolling hills, scenic mountains, beaches, and abundant land. Besides the instability of our climate, Virginia seems to be (in my opinion) a great place to have a winery. In fact, Virginia is up and coming right now in the American wine industry. We all know (and love) Californian wines but Virginia is on the rise to one day be another state known for its wine. The Daily Progress has an article about Virginian wine- an interesting read. I have only been to a couple wineries but I plan on making a trip to Trump Vineyard in the next couple of months. 

     Trump Vineyard is 900 acres, nestled in Charlottesville, Virginia (GO HOKIES!), and just a few miles away from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Trump Vineyard has several wine varietals including: Albemarle Rose, Albemarle Sauvignon Blanc, Albemarle Simply Red, Cru (which I will discuss later on), Kluge Estate New World Red, Kluge Estate SP Blanc de Blanc, and Kluge Estate SP Rose. I learned all of this information from the Trump website.  

     I am in a winery tourism class this semester. It's awesome. I have learned a lot. Recently, we had a Virginia wine tasting. I was impressed. Among the wines we tried, we had the opportunity to try Cru. Cru tasted like a Chardonnay wine (pretty sweet) with a Bourbon finish. You heard me, Bourbon. I personally am not a fan of Bourbon and would definitely never have considered mixing its flavor with a Chardonnay but Trump wineries has done a wonderful job. Cru was a hit at our tasting session. Below is a description from the Trump website about Cru for those interested:

"Unique to Trump Winery, Cru is created by blending Chardonnay juice with Chardonnay brandy in lieu of a traditional fermentation. This fortified wine is then aged for over a year in American bourbon barrels. The result is an aperitif wine that is truly all-American."

"Deep, fresh aromas and flavors of pear, citrus, bourbon and toasted almonds. This fortified wine is 18% alcohol, so it works equally well neat or as a mixer." 

  

     So, if you love wine, Virginia, and Donald Trump- you are in luck. If you love Chardonnay and Bourbon- you are in wine heaven. I liked trying new things, so Cru was a fun experience. Below is a good song to listen to while you SIP (18% alcohol) this wine:

Tune: Take it Easy

-The Eagles (because they are a classic)