TASTING #6 (12/02/09)

Tasting #6 was a blind tasting of 2 Sauvignon Blancs and 2 Cabernets (theme thought of by Jason), with both comparision wines purchased at different price points. The tasting was held at Jason & Andrea's condo in Greenfield and attended by (12): Jason, Andrea, Jan, Tom, Rich, Debby, Kristen, Joe, Jen, Mike, Steph & James.

The night started with two starter wines (1 red & 1 white, depending on each person's preference) for everyone to enjoy upon arrival...

1. Folk Machine 2007 "Co-Conspirator" (Table White), California
2. Riva Rey 2006 Rioja Crianza (Tempranillo), Spain

Next, the actual tasting, complimented with grapes & a cheese plate coutesy of Jan & Tom...

3. Sauvignon Blanc #1
4. Sauvignon Blanc #2
5. Cabernet #1
6. Cabernet #2

Lastly, an Ice Wine with dessert (brought by Debby & Rich)...

7. Ice Wine, paired with a granny smith apple custard tart.

Thanksgiving wine pairings

A blogger at www.jsonline.com submitted a post today about possible wine pairings for Thanksgiving dinner (turkey). The link is here... http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/lifestyle/70436207.html

I also added a comment about how my favorite turkey wines are the Parallel 44 Festivo and the Orchard County Semi-Dry Cherry.

TASTING #5 (11/04/09) - New World v. Old World wine tasting

Wine tasting #4 was held at Mike & Jen's and featured New World wines vs. Old World wines and appropriate cheese pairings (theme thought of by Mike & Jen) and attended by: Mike, Jen, Jason, Andrea, Kristen, Joe, Rich, Debby, Kim, Andy, Sam & Holly.

UPCOMING TASTINGS...

Wednesday, NOV 4th at Mike & Jen's. Theme yet to be determined.

TASTING #4 (10/07/09) - Autumn Beers

Tasting #4 was actually a beer tasting (theme thought of by Jason) and was held at Mark & Cindy's house in Wauwatosa and attended by (9): Mark, Cindy, Jason, Andrea, Mike, Jen, Joe, Kristen and Kim.

The night started off with a casual Spanish grenache wine comparison...

1. TRES OJOS
Brought by: Mark

2. LAS ROCAS
Brought by: Mark

Next, we tried a German-style Octoberfest on its own...

3. HOFBRAUHAUS OKTOBERFEST
Brought by: Mark
Paired with: cheese & cracker plate (Mark & Cindy)
Also Paired with: cracker appetizer (Jen & Mike)
And Also Paired with: Bacon Breadsticks (Kristen)

Next was the blind American-style Octoberfest tasting...

4. STAGHORN OCTOBERFEST (New Glarus)
Brought by: Kristen & Joe

5. SAM ADAM'S OCTOBERFEST
Brought by: Mike & Jen

6. LEINENKUGEL'S OKTOBERFEST
Brought by: Jason & Andrea

Paired with: pork & sweet potato kabobs (made by Cindy)

Everyone commented on the beers, gave predictions and picked their favorites. The Staghorn was lightest in color and the Leinie's had the most carbonation. Everyone correctly picked that beer #2 was Sam Adam's and 7 people picked it as their favorite (without truely knowing that it was Sam Adam's). Almost everyone incorrectly picked the New Glarus vs. the Leinie's. Only Joe liked New Glarus the best and only Jason like Leinie's the best. By comparison, the voters at beeradvocate.com gave the following grades... New Glarus B+, Sam Adams B, Leinie C+.

Next up was the blind pumpkin beer tasting...

7. NEW HOLLAND ICHABOD ALE
Brought by: Mike & Jen

8. LAKEFRONT BREWERY PUMPKIN LAGER
Brought by: Kim

9. SHIPWRECKED BREWERY PUMPKIN ALE
Brought by: Jason & Andrea

Paired with: pumpkin pie (made by Cindy)

Once again, everyone commented, predicted and picked there favorite. All 9 tasters blindly picked Lakefront as their favorite! Way to go Milwaukee!!! Most people blindly favored the Shipwrecked as their second favorite of the three. Beeradvocate.com gave grades of B- to both Lakefront and Ichabod, but I didn't see a grade for Shipwrecked. I seemed to be about the only one who ranked the Ichabod higher than Shipwrecked. It was fairly heavy in cinnamon and in spice and I enjoyed the initial taste/burst of those flavors.

10. CHERRY VODKA BOUNCE
Brought by: Mark (brewed by his brother Scott)

11. CHEERY WHISKY BOUNCE
Brought by: Mark (brewed by his brother Scott)

The vodka-soaked cherries are out of this world, as is the juice/marinade. I found the vodka ones to be perfect, however, as not as big of a whisky fan, I thought those seemed stronger and I know I couldn't eat many of those by comparision.

Overall, a very fun and another successful tasting! Mark and Cindy were awesome hosts and it was fun to try something a little different.

And YES, we tried a lot of booze... and YES, I still have a headache to prove it!

TASTING #3 (09/02/09) - Grilled Foods & appropriate wine pairings

Wine tasting #3 was held at Rich & Debby's backyard and featured grilled foods and appropriate wine pairings (theme thought of by Jason & Debby) and attended by: Jason, Andrea, Rich, Debby, Mike, Jen, Jan, Kristen, Dan & Tiffany

1. Frog's Leap Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 (Napa)
Brought by: Mike & Jen
Purchase Info: Consumer Beverage Center (Hales Corners)
Paired with: chicken & veggie kabobs (Rich & Debby)
About the wine: http://www.frogsleap.com/pdfs/sau.pdf

2. REISLING
Brought by: Dan
Purchase Info:
Paired with: polish sausage (Kristen)

3. TRAVICELLO
Given by: Mark
Purchase Info:
Paired with: grilled meatballs (Jan)

4. CEDAR CREEK OLD MILL RED (FOCH)
Brought by: Jason & Andrea
Purchase Info: Cedar Creek Winery, $11
Paired with: sliders (Dan)

5. LAYER CAKE SHIRAZ
Brought by: Tiffany & Debby
Purchase Info: Sendik, $13
Paired with: grilled choco dessert

Italian Wines & Food Pairings

ITALIAN WINES & GOOD FOOD PAIRINGS (compiled by: Dan)

Whites:
Gavi
Prosecco
Moscato D'Asti
Soave or Orvieto
Pinot Grigio
Vin Santo

Reds (most Italian reds are dry)
Dolcetto
Barbera
Primitivo (same clone as zinfandel)
Chianti
Chianti Classico
Nero D'Avola

Pairings:
Gavi - Fish (fried and/or white), pasta w/ cream sauce, pasta w/ pesto sauce, seafood (esp. soup or stew), fried or roasted vegetables.

Prosecco - almonds, asparagus, prosciutto, smoked salmon, shrimp (chilled), appetizers.

Moscato D'Asti – fruit tart

Soave or Orvietto - chicken (esp. as a salad), clams, crab, light preparation of fish (poached), polenta w/ Gorgonzola cheese, scampi, seafood, pasta w/ seafood, calamari. Also for Orvietto specifically: prosciutto w/ melon.

Pinot Grigio (Ruffino if available)- Eli's Parmesan crackers*, seafood, shellfish, goats milk or sheepsmilk cheese, chicken (fried, grilled or roasted), mussels, salmon, scallops, light seafood dishes, shrimp.

Vin Santo - biscotti (plain or hazelnut) for dipping in the wine.

Dolcetto - red meat grilled or roasted and/or served cold, grilled or roasted chicken w/ tomato sauce, pasta w/ cheese and vegetables (simple sauces), roasted tomatoes, tomato-based dishes (bruschetta), pizza bites, salami.

Barbera - full flavored cheese (pecorino), fontina cheese, grilled sausage, salami, tomatoes, grilled or roasted root vegetables, Chinese food, chili, garlic, grilled mushrooms, hamburgers with bacon and cheese.

Primitivo - strong cheese, spicy vegetable dishes, sausage, pasta with spicy meat sauces

Chianti and Chianti Classico - baked pastas (lasagna, cannelloni, manicotti), pizza bites, caprese salad (basil, buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, olive oil), Parmesan, pecorino, provolone, grilled mushrooms, beans and bean based dishes, grilled red meats.

Nero D'Avola - meatballs (and meatballs with rice), baked pastas, red meat.

TASTING #2 (08/05/09) - Italian Wines

Wine tasting #2 was held at Jason & Andrea's and featured Italian wines and appropriate food pairings (theme thought of by Dan)...

1. Orvieto
Brought by: Mike, Jen & Jeff
Purchase info:
Paired with: proscuitto & melon

2. Soave
Brought by: Jan & Tom
Purchase Info: Sendik Greenfield
Paired with: proscuitto pinwheels

3. Barbera
Brought by: Jason, Andrea & Kari
Purchase Info: Thief Wine
Paired with: Parmigiano-Reggiano & Italian bread http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parmigiano_reggiano


4. DaVinci Chianti (2006)
Brought by: Kim & Andy
Purchase Info:
Paired with: Lasagna (brought by Debby & Rich)

5. DaVinci Chianti Classico (2005)
Brought by: Kristen & Joe
Purchase Info: Woodman's Oak Creek ($18)
Paired with: Lasagna (brought by Debby & Rich)

6. Moscato D'Asti
Brought by: Dan & Tad
Purchase Info:
Paired with: fruit tart
Review: Saracco’s Moscato is perfumed with notes of fresh lychee, pear and white flower floating from the glass. On the palate, the fruit is lifted by the sparkle, and touches of residual sugar add candied essence to the fresh fruit. Saracco’s Moscato can be enjoyed as an aperitif. Or at the end of the meal, Saracco will refreshingly match with fresh fruit and whipped cream. Also - this wine has tiny, bubbles in it, not as large as the bubbles in Champagne. The Italians call wines with these little bubbles "frizzante". Frizzante wines have small bubbles that offer a refreshing tingle while helping to mask the wine’s sweetness. Italians call wines with larger Champagne-size bubbles "spumante".

TASTING #1 (07/01/09) - Random Favorites

Wine tasting #1 was held at Jason & Andrea's and everyone was asked to bring a favorite random wine of theirs and to pair it with a food they liked to drink it with (theme thought of by Jason)...

1. Cedar Creek Vidal, WI
Brought by: Mike & Jen
Purchase Info:
Paired with: brushetta

2. Reisling
Brought by: Debby & Rich
Purchase Info:
Paired with:

3. Chardonnay
Brought by: Kristen & Joe
Purchase Info:
Paired with: chicken alfredo linguinie

4. Pinot Noir
Brought by: Dan & Tad
Purchase Info:
Paired with: mushroom caps

5. Stone's Throw Big Mouth Red, WI/CA
Brought by: Jason & Andrea
Purchase Info: Discount Liquor
Paired with: pizza

6. Stone's Throw Big Mouth Red Reserve, WI/CA
Brought by: Mark
Purchase Info: Stone's Throw winery