Winery Visit - "Beliveau Estate"

Today we had our Spring Banquet for Pi Sigma Epsilon, my coed business frat, at Beliveau Estate near Tech! Our Banquet is kind of like Formals for social frats/sororities. We can bring a date, get to have a nice dinner, take a lot of pictures, and then do superlative awards for all the brothers!

Beliveau is a small winery and bed & breakfast that also grows lavender! They have a great selection of wine, often on the sweeter side, and they've only been open 2 years. They've won lots of awards for Western VA and Blue Ridge Country though and we had a lot of fun! Since today was also Fork and Cork in Blacksburg, a festival for local restaurants and wineries to do tastings, Beliveau was almost empty, just our group and the owner and chef. Joyce Beliveau and her husband, Yvan own the estate and he makes the wine. Joyce actually welcomed us when we got there and was our host/bartender for the tasting. She was really nice, gave great descriptions for any level of wine consumer, and was eager to discuss our opinions and answer questions. We discussed oaking and which grapes are imported (like Zinfandel from California) and got to try 7 wines for $5, even some of their nicer Reserve labels.

Panorama of Beliveau Estate

Joyce gave us a copy of their tasting list and told us which wines we were trying as she poured, giving us some descriptions but also saying that we should try to see what we pick up on our own without reading the tasting notes from the list first. As we were tasting, we also walked around outside before the sun set to take some pictures and looked around the winery, which had a nice open barn feel with lofted areas and huge doors to the patio.

Tasting List

White Wines

Red Wines

Reserve Wine List

I don't remember everything we tasted, but I know we had Destiny 2012 and Portal 2012 from the Reserve list. Destiny was nice to start with, and Portal was one of the last ones we tried, but the peppery spice from that was crazy. I've never had a wine that popped like Portal, alternating multiple times between light fruit and intense spice on the tongue. It was incredibly distinct and exciting. One of the brothers also bought a bottle of Afternoon Delight, so I got to try that.
For the whites, I think we tried them all except for Discovery, which I ended up buying a bottle of and really enjoying. Everyone really liked Lover's Quest because it was so sweet, but I actually really enjoyed Reflection 2012, especially after recently trying a Gewurztraminer.
I also think we tried Sweet Surrender under the reds, that I really liked. I don't often drink reds because of the dry, bitter qualities that often come up, but this had none of those. It's name is very accurate and I loved the blend. Plenty of flavor and sugar, but not overwhelming! Also, for one of the reds, Joyce had an aerator spout on the bottle as she poured, so I asked about it because I hadn't seen that specific kind. She mentioned that she had only opened the wine an hour ago, so the aerator would help open it up. I think some of the brothers who didn't know how it worked found it really interesting!

A couple of brothers at the tasting with Joyce Beliveau

Then we had a delicious dinner with a Salad, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Signature Cheesy Potatoes, & Sautéed Snap Peas and Triple Chocolate Cake with Cherry Reduction! Definitely one of the best meals I've had at school and the wine was fantastic.

Good Food, Good Friends

My friend and I on the balcony of the winery!

Check out more about Beliveau Estate at their website (http://www.beliveauestate.com/index.html)

I definitely recommend visiting and trying some wines, plus the people are really nice.

Tasting - "Lone Birch Riesling"

Name: Lone Birch Riesling
Variety: Riesling
Region: Yakima Valley, Washington
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $9.99

Winery Review: "Lone Birch has a light straw color, a delicate perfumed floral bouquet on the nose, and a light-bodied palate with flavors of white peach and citrus fruit."

My Review: I actually liked this Riesling quite a bit. I'm curious to see what it might taste like over the next few days too. I thought I noticed a very faint green apple scent with some lilac and flower notes. As for the taste, it started off smooth and surprisingly creamy, then finished with an acidic backbone that lasted a while. I think I also picked up a good amount of citrus that were pleasant with the creaminess.

Tasting - "The Honey Pot"

Name: The Honey Pot
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc 79%, Semillon 13%, Viognier 8%
Region: Stellenbosch
Country: South Africa
Year: 2012
Price: $11.99

Winery Review: "Lovely yellow green tinged color with brilliant reflection of light. Nose of Papaya, melon and litchi. Palate is smooth and creamy with soft, tropical fruit notes of papaya, litchi and mango and ends with a fresh, long finish."

My Review: This wine was interesting, so I'm glad I tried it, but I wish there had been less Sauvignon Blanc and more of the other varietals, but oh well. I definitely noticed the tropical and citrus scents on the nose, but there was something I struggled to name. It had a mustier sort of scent and maybe some lavender?  I really had a tough time picking it out. The taste was also a little tricky. I went back and forth on the acidity and the finish was a little steely for me. I did get the tropical, papaya, and citrus flavors though. After reading the winery review, I took a few more sips and decided that litchi/lychee might actually be there and I hadn't noticed it before! I don't think I've had lychee in a wine before.

Tasting - "Gewürz"

Name: Gewürz

Variety: Gewürztraminer
Region: Mendocino County, California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $9.99

Winery Review: "This wine will fool you with sweet floral aromas. The 2013 has the classic floral, sweet aromas of stone fruits, pear, rose and a hint of wet stone minerality. The flavors are similar to the aromas highlighted by tropical, spice and grapefruit flavors."

My Review: I wanted to try a Gewürztraminer and found this one, relatively cheap at Whole Foods. I wasn't thrilled, but I think if I found a sweeter one from Germany, I might really enjoy it. This wine was dryer than I anticipated, even with a thicker viscosity. The nose had some nice rose petal, orange blossom, and pear notes, but the diesel/petrol smell I get from a lot of whites came through too. The feel was pretty smooth, but it had some acid and a bitter aftertaste. I was surprised that it sort of coated my tongue and then left a dry sensation. The floral notes on the nose were not really on the tongue, but there was definitely a mineral, steely taste that may have overwhelmed anything else. Overall, not a bad wine for the cost, but not one I'd purchase again.

Tasting - "Dachshund Riesling"

Name: Dachshund Riesling

Variety: Riesling
Region: Rheinhessen
Country: Germany
Year: 2012
Price: $10.99

Winery Review: "The wine is full flavored with both pear and citrus fruit aromas. Stimulating on the palate, as well fresh and fruity it has a nice sweetness balanced with the typical crisp Riesling acidity and a long- lasting finish."

My Review: Obviously I bought this wine for the bottle, who doesn't love an adorable dog? But I also quite like Riesling and wanted to see what was going on behind the label. The smell was pretty standard Riesling in my mind; some petrol, strong citrus, and hints of peach and pear. The taste was curious. It took me a while to decide what I was picking up, which was a crisp acidity and spiciness on the finish. The spiciness is what threw me off. The finish was pretty long with a nice mouth feel. I also felt that there was a lot of citrus and tartness like a green apple. I'd like to see what I think of it later, because I couldn't decide if I liked it or not.

Tasting - "Shoofly Buzz Cut 2009"

Name: Shoofly Buzz Cut 2009
Variety: Viognier 38%, Riesling 27%, Verdelho 24%, Semillon 6%, Chardonnay 5%
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2009
Price: $8.99

Winery Review: "A wildly aromatic blend of Verdelho, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay and Semillon. The fruit is sourced from McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills and Langhorne Creek, fermented in stainless steel and bottled fresh and young for immediate enjoyment. It's a lush blend showing juicy, tropical flavors, exotic perfume and a refreshing, structured palate."

My Review: This wine was surprising, but I didn't really like it. The nose was oddly "red" with a lot of dirt, cigar box, leather, and gasoline scents. Then the taste had some of the dirt, but a lot of mineral notes and a heck of a lot of alcohol. 13.5% for a white is beyond me. All that alcohol brought the heat and the firm tannins couldn't remedy it.

Tasting - "Woodpecker Premium Cider"

Name: Woodpecker Premium Cider
Variety: Apple Cider
Region: Hereford
Country: England
Year: Not Stated
Price: $2.00 (individual bottles at Vintage Cellar)

Cidermaker Review: "The use of the English bittersweet apple provided Woodpecker® with a distinctive taste and refreshing drinkability. A crisp semi-dry finish, amber hue with a lightly sparking appearance, sweet fruity aroma and a slight toffee-apple note."

My Review: The nose was great; sweet honeysuckle and pear. The taste was difficult to pick up and very thin, but it was suitable. At first I noticed a sweet finish, but the more I drank the stranger the aftertaste seemed to get. I'm not sure I would buy it again, but it's by Bulmer's so I had high hopes.

Tasting - "SAVED Rosé"

Name: SAVED Rosé
Variety: Cabernet Franc 53%, Sangiovese 20%, Zinfandel 12%, Chardonnay 8%, Grenache 3%, Malvasia Bianca 2%, Malbec 2%
Region: Napa Valley, CA
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $15.00

Winery Review: "SAVED Rosé is a pink wine for tough guys and gals. This delicate and ultra dry Rosé is crafted from a unique blend of varietals, carefully blended into one tiny batch of a few hundred cases."

My Review: This Rosé is crazy hot! And I don't mean in a good way...The alcohol content is 13.4% and it burns all the way down your throat. The nose was surprisingly "red" with a lot of dirty/soil aromas and a hint of flowers. The taste, from what I could get other than heat and acid, was floral and had a long finish, although not a pleasant one...It seems to me this wine was overworked and striving for high alcohol content, but it's very unbalanced and not at all smooth.

Tasting - "Foggy Ridge Serious Cider"

Sorry for the lack of blog posts recently! I actually found out I had Mono on April 1st and you're not supposed to drink alcohol with Mono, because of swollen organs and such....so that put a dent in my ability to post on here. It also put a dent in my last semester of my senior year at Tech, but that's another story. After 4 weeks and no more symptoms, I have decided I can ease back into tastings.

Name: Foggy Ridge Serious Cider
Variety: Apple Cider
Region: Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains
Country: USA
Year: Not Stated
Price: $18.00

Cidermaker Review: "Foggy Ridge Cider grows many "spitters"—high tannin apples that taste like unripe persimmons but contribute tannin to all our cider blends, especially Serious Cider, our most dry hard cider. Classic English cider apples like Stoke Red, Dabinett and Tremlett's Bitter combine with high tannin American varieties such as Ashmead's Kernel and Roxbury Russett to create a cider that drinks like Brut Champagne. Enjoy Serious Cider with fatty nibbles like a French Triple Creme or crab cakes browned in butter. Or just slice rich sheep's milk cheese and pour a glass. This Virignia Cider is made with only Virginia Apples and blended to perfection."

My Review: After looking at their website, I realized I would probably have preferred the other types, but the store I found this at didn't have any other kinds and I'd never heard of it before. That being said, this is an EXTREMELY dry cider and very fizzy. My friend tried it with me and really enjoyed it, but I was not a fan. The smell was fairly sweet, nice red apple and honeysuckle notes, but the taste was pretty tart. Just not my cup of tea.

Tasting - "Alvaro Domecq, S.L. Aranda Cream Sherry"

Name: Alvaro Domecq, S.L. Aranda Cream Sherry
Variety: Palomino and Pedro Ximénez
Region: Cadiz
Country: Spain
Year: Not Stated
Price: $15.95

Winery Review: "Mahogany colour. Very intense aroma. Velvety on the palate with nuances. Full bodied and long finish."

My Review: Sherry isn't really my thing, especially because it leans towards very sweet and very hot (alcohol-wise). This particular Sherry had strong maple syrup scents and flavors, along with some toffee notes on the tongue. On a side note, I really enjoy how Domecq describes the color, like "mahogany". I tried to describe it as a reddish caramel, but mahogany is spot on.

Tasting - "Plungerhead Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon"

Name: Plungerhead Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot
Region: Lodi, California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $14.95

Winery Review: "The inaugural 2011 Plungerhead Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon is dark ruby in color with aromas of blackberry, plum. Flavors of cranberry and chocolate and finishing with notes of vanilla and hints of mint."

My Review: This Cab surprised me. I didn't particularly like it, but I'd never had a wine like it. The nose wasn't anything spectacular, just some cherry and cranberry scents, but the flavor profile was really exciting! There was a strong mint and fresh eucalyptus taste with some acidic backbone. I was quite fascinated by this Cab even if I didn't like it much. Plus look how goofy the label is!

Tasting - "Foxglove Paso Robles Zinfandel"

Name: Foxglove Paso Robles Zinfandel
Variety: Zinfandel (6% Petite Sirah)
Region: Central Coast, California
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $15.95

Critic Review: "A delicious, classic Zinfandel, it offers up peppery, briery, wild berry fruit intermixed with damp earth and spice characteristics. Medium to full-bodied, delicious, and soft with enough acidity for cleanliness and delineation, it should be drunk over the next 2-3 years." -Robert Parker

My Review: Interestingly enough, Parker gave this wine 90pts, but I hated it. The smell was interesting with strong grape and some cherry and tomato scents, but it was so bitter on the tongue that I made a face. And it wasn't a cute face, I assure you. I think it would need a couple more years for me to even consider trying it again. Maybe with time or some really good cheese it could be smoother...

Tasting - "Patricia Green Cellars Lia's Vineyard Pinot Noir"

Name: Patricia Green Cellars Lia's Vineyard Pinot Noir
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Chehalem Mountain, Oregon
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $37.95

Winery Review: "We settled on a mix that we feel brings in the rich elements of the volcanic soil and the minerality of the marine soil, and receives an aromatic and structural lift from the whole cluster fermentations. At present the red fruit and floral elements dominate the nose and the darker tones reside in the midpalate and finish. This walks a nice line between supple femininity and a darker, brooding character. This is a fun and interesting wine that should please a wide range of palates."

My Review: I was pleasantly surprised by this Pinot! I'm not a huge red fan, as I've stated before, but this was quite smooth with an interesting aftertaste. My friend tried it before me and really didn't like the aftertaste, but when I had it, I found it kind of zingy with a nice bite. The floral scent also carried over into the flavor profile as well.

Tasting - "Moulin de Gassac Guilhem Rose"

Name: Moulin de Gassac Guilhem Rose
Variety: 50% Grenache, 30% Carignan, 20% Syrah
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon
Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: $10.95

Winery Review: "This delightful salmon-pink wine is produced using the traditional saignée process. After macerating on the skins for approximately 10 hours, the juice is then pumped off and fermented in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks. Aromatics of strawberries and crushed red fruit leap from the glass. In the mouth, it is fresh with excellent acidity, some mineral components and good length. Very food friendly, it is a great companion to just about anything you want to throw at it."

My Review: This Rose was dryer than most I've had, which was good because too much sweetness could have overwhelmed it. Both the scent and taste were very floral and a bit fruity. It also had a pleasantly full body, more than any of the last few wines I reviewed.

Tasting - "Foxglove Chardonnay"

Name: Foxglove Chardonnay
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Central Coast, California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $15.95

Winery Review: "Foxglove Chardonnay always represents a great value. With this wine you have the richness of fruit from California's Central Coast giving you tropical notes. However, the wine is bottled without going through malolactic fermentation and has no oak on it so it maintains a very clean profile. Great on it's own or with food it's a very versatile Chardonnay."

My Review: I appreciated that this Chardonnay was unoaked, which I prefer. It had a strong petrol or gasoline scent, like a lot of Chardonnays, but very little on the palate. In fact, this Foxglove had some lovely orange peel and citrus notes that gave it a surprising freshness.

Tasting - "Moulin de Gassac Guilhem Blanc"

Name: Moulin de Gassac Guilhem Blanc

Variety: 50% Grenache Blanc, 25% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Terret Blanc
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon
Country: France
Year: 2012
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: "A Grenache Blanc blend, this shows a limpid, straw-yellow colour, with a delicate, pretty nose of acacia and pear and a mid-weight, harmonious palate of lemon, dill and green olive."

My Review: This Moulin de Gassac had a very similar smell to your basic Sauvignon Blanc. It had a fresh, grassy scent and a sweet aftertaste. The mineral flavors and citrus and melon scents were more subtle, but nice.

Tasting - "Sweet Pea Apple Wine"

Name: Sweet Pea Apple Wine (with natural peach flavor)
Variety: Washington Apples
Region: Washington
Country: USA
Year: Not Stated
Price: $8

Winery Tasting Notes: "Two parts real Washington grown apples, one part natural peach essence, a dash of artful blending and a pinch of domestic charm - you havent been this happy since your first easy bake oven. One glass will send you right back to grandmas kitchen and the sweet smell of homemade apple pie. Pleasing as peach cobbler and refreshing as a cool glass of Riesling on a warm summer evening, Sweet Pea is ripe with golden delicious apple flavors, hints of peachy sweetness and a crisp, clean finish. Who says housewives have to be desperate?
Juicy, ripe apples fill the nose and palate with hints of fresh peaches. The sweetness is balanced with the crisp and clean finish. This festive wine is ready to be chilled and enjoyed right away."

My Review: At first I really liked this wine, the smell was incredible, like cotton candy and peaches! It tasted pretty good at first, very complex with tart green apple flavors and sweet citrus notes, but then only the puckering mouth feel was left. It had an artificially sweet taste, kind of like a green apple jolly rancher that only became sour the longer I drank. I haven't decided if the taste changing is because of my palate or the wine warming a bit, but either way it was disappointing, because I originally liked it. I think the taste just flops back and forth for me between tart and sweet so I cannot make up my mind.

Tasting - "Amberhill Secret Blend White Wine"

Name: Amberhill Secret Blend White Wine
Variety: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Moscato
Region: St. Helena, California
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Price: $9

Winery Review: "This bright white wine is reminicent of a warm, breezy summer evening sharing oysters on the half shell and a good laugh with close friends. It’s made up of integrated flavors of peach, melon, citrus and a finish that awakens the appetite. There are hints of vanilla spice, honeysuckle, and lemon zest that come together with a crisp and refershing finish."

My Review: I wasn't crazy about this wine, but it wasn't exactly bad. It had a very alcoholic smell for a white blend (13.5% alc) with some grapefruit and lemongrass hints, giving it some freshness but not enough to balance it. The taste was very citrus-y and floral, but had a surprisingly dry finish. I think more sugar would have helped this wine a lot.

Cheese & Wine Pairing at Home

Over Spring Break, my friend and I decided to buy a few wines from Whole Foods and some cheese from Kroger (cuz I gotta budget somewhere) and pair them according to Professor Boyer's "Drink This Now!" guidebook. We went to her house and her mother also joined us, which was great because they wanted to learn more about wine and I could teach them a few things! The first photo is our spread. We had a few options to choose from (we bought 7) and some of the pictures feature the Gewurztraminer on the far left, but we decided to only try 4 wines for the time being and 6 cheeses. The wines (in our drinking order) were Les Dauphins Red Blend, Globerati Cabernet Sauvignon, Indaba Sauvignon Blanc, and Protea Chenin Blanc. I tried to stick to the $9-12 range, except for the Protea (which was closer to $17), but the bottle was too good to pass up. Our cheeses were Havarti, Manchego, Camembert, Cheddar, Gruyere, and Provolone.

For our first wine, Les Dauphins, I explained the reasoning behind swirling the glass to warm the wine/increase the surface area reached and release the aromas and the shape most wine glasses have to concentrate those smells. We also analyzed the "legs" on the glasses due to sugar and alcohol content. Also known as "tears", Les Dauphins' were particularly fun to watch and my friend wanted to show off her manicure in a photo. As for the wine itself, it had a nice black cherry smell and taste and I was pleasantly surprised. I'm not fond of reds, but this one might even be good enough to buy again! Since the bottle didn't actually list what the "blend" was, I made some educated guesses about which cheeses might work well with it. I chose Camembert and Cheddar. My friend preferred Camembert with almost every wine, but I felt that it didn't help the Dauphins acid and only gave it an artificially sweet aftertaste. The cheddar however, helped smooth out the body and left just enough dryness from the tannins.

       

Our second pick was the Globerati Cab Sauvignon and my companions were very happy with it. I didn't mind it, but as I stated before, I'm not much of a red fan. The smell was very interesting with heavy grape, pepper and a bit of tobacco scents. The flavor profile also had a lot of black pepper and a good body with some heat to it. We paired the Camembert, Cheddar, Provolone, and Manchego with it. The Camembert honestly had very little affect on my palate, but the Cheddar had a lovely creamy, sweet finish. The Provolone cheese was too strong for my tastes, but paired with the Cab it was ridiculously pungent! Lastly, the Manchego left a salty end that wasn't unpleasant, but didn't seem to complement the wine.

Our first white was the Indaba Sauvignon Blanc that smelled like pear and grass and had lemon flavors on the tongue. I paired the Gruyere and Cheddar with it, neither of which were particularly complementary. The Gruyere brought out a strong saltiness and the Cheddar drew attention to the acidity and burning sensation of the wine. By itself the wine wasn't that exciting, but it was better than with the cheeses I picked...

Last and maybe least unfortunately, was the Protea Chenin Blanc with a higher price point than the others. While shopping at Whole Foods, the gentleman that works there noticed it in my cart and commented that it was a good one and very popular. It's possible I'd built it up and put it last, hoping that I would love it and it just wasn't up to my expectations, but that doesn't mean it's a bad wine. It had a fantastic nose; lush grapefruit and greenery, but the taste wasn't as exciting. It had a stronger citrus lemon/lime flavor and high acidity than I expected. I tried it with the Provolone, which again was way too strong and unappealing, but also with the Havarti. Havarti will probably go with just about anything and it was certainly better than the Provolone, but it didn't enhance this wine. On a side note, the bottle was beautiful and the name Protea is South Africa's national flower. And here's a picture of me pouring it!

Overall, it was a really enjoyable experience, mostly because of the company, but also because I got to try something new! I think we all had a good time and found something we liked. Hopefully I taught them a few things and they weren't too bored as I documented, analyzed, and dissected everything... Anyways, I actually liked a red wine the best of the bunch. Les Dauphins won me over, at least a little bit.

Tasting - "Shaw Family Vintners SteepleJack Moscato"

Name: Shaw Family Vintners SteepleJack Moscato

Variety: Moscato (85% Gordo, 15% Chardonnay)

Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia

Country: Australia

Year: 2012

Price: $8.99

Winery Review: "Confectionary notes with a hint of musk lifesavers dominate this wine. Sweet and petite, with a rush of fizz, ensuring a refreshing clean finish."

My Review: I don't usually go for Moscato, mostly because it's sweet enough to be a dessert, but I decided to give this one a chance. SteepleJack has a lovely golden color with hints of green and a little bit of spritz. The nose has heavy Chardonnay notes, but there is also some green apple, flinty, peach bits as well. The flavor profile is incredibly floral. I've never had a wine where I could pinpoint specific flowers, but I was excited to discover with this one I could. Honeysuckle stood out more than anything else, but I also tasted a bit of jasmine, peach, and orange peel. At first I wasn't sure how complex it was, the finish was not very strong, but the more I sipped, the more I could sense the levels. It had a decent body, not as nice as my last review of "Gnarly Head", but it has a wonderful tingly essence to it that makes it exciting on the tongue. Overall, this was much too sweet to drink a lot of. I think sipping for dessert would be alright, but I probably wouldn't buy another whole bottle.

Tasting - "Gnarly Head Authentic White"

Name: Gnarly Head Authentic White
Variety: Riesling, Moscato, Sauvignon Blanc, & Viognier
Region: Lodi & Monterey, California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $8.99

Winery Review: "Authentic White is a gnarly blend of tasty white varietals including Riesling, Moscato, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. It is lush and juicy on the palate with aromas of pear, green apple and honeysuckle and flavors of melon, nectarine and crisp lemon zest finish. Authentically delicious, Gnarly Head Authentic White is a great food wine! Serve with spicy Asian cuisine, soft cheeses and salads."

My Review: My decision to purchase Gnarly Head had a lot to do with the bottle and name, but also the fact that it was a blend of different whites. When I opened it, I could smell how crisp and sweet it was, giving me hope! The bouquet overall was fresh, like seashells, with citrus and diesel hints. My first couple of sips, I mostly noticed the mouth feel and how full the wine seemed. It has a good balance of sweetness with floral tones and a tart finish that lasts, probably because of the heavy lemon and tangerine/nectarine flavors. On a side note, I observed the legs on the glass from the residual sugar and how strong they seemed, backing up the sweetness I could smell and taste.
I quite enjoyed this wine and would probably recommend it to a friend. I try to avoid buying the same wine twice, but if I were hard pressed to find one I liked in a short amount of time, this one would do just fine.

Tasting - "Stella Artois Cidre"

Name: Stella Artois Cidre
Country: Belgium
Price: $6.99/4-pack

Now I know this isn't wine, but I'm a huge fan of European ciders and when I found this I got really excited. While I was studying abroad I tried a lot of cider brands, because I don't like beer and when I returned to the US I was disappointed in the selection. It is growing a lot, but so far I haven't found anything I like as much as Bulmer's.

Brewery Review: New Stella Artois Cidre is a crisp and refreshing European-style cider made from hand-picked apples. The sophistication of Stella Artois Cidre is delivered by the full flavour of red apple, enhanced by peachy, apricot notes, complimented by the woody finish.
Please enjoy Stella Artois Cidre poured into a white wine glass and pair with a semi-hard cheese like manchego, a Waldorf salad or fresh Belgian endives.

My Review: Let me first say that as someone who dislikes beer, there are some ciders I do not like because they are very similar to beer (very filling and heavy). This Stella Cidre is light and although it has a fermented taste, it is one of the better ones I've had in the US! Starting with the smell, there's crisp apple and a sweet fresh smell that also has woody hints underneath. As for taste, it's sweet and a little tart like a green apple, has a bit of a metallic finish and what I thought was similar to pear. The carbonation also seems to linger.

Tasting - “Mirassou Monterey County Riesling”

Mirassou Monterey County Riesling label

Name: Mirassou Winery Monterey County California Riesling

Variety: 100% Riesling

Region: Monterey County, California

Country: USA

Year: 2012

Price: $7.99

Unfortunately, I searched for a review on the 2012 Riesling and could not find a reputable one, so I had to settle for what Mirassou currently has on their website about their 2010 Riesling. It has the same characteristics listed as on the 2012 label, so it may just be a typo online.

Winery Review: Our 2010 Mirassou California Riesling is soft and approachable with fruit-forward aromas and flavors of peach, apple, and citrus notes. As a result of the naturally firm acid levels, this wine is crisp and delicately structured and pairs beautifully with richly sauced poultry or seafood. Because of its inherent sweetness, it also pairs beautifully with desserts that have both rich and fruity elements.

As you can see in the bottom photo, I poured myself a tasting portion (I eyeballed the amount) and left room for swirling. We learned in class last week that you swirl the wine in order to coat the glass, warm the wine, and release the aroma. It's notable to point out that my glasses are stemless, but still have the traditional shape. I quite like them, but they wouldn't be ideal for white wine if you had to hold the glass the entire time, because your hand would warm the wine and whites are better chilled!

My Review: I thought it was tasty for the price, but not something I would buy again. First, I swirled the wine and then I sniffed. It has a very fruity, fresh scent with hints of lemon and spice. When I tasted the wine, my initial thought was that it wasn't sweet, which I found odd for a Riesling. Then I realized it is sweet at first, but overwhelmed by a slightly sour tang that lingers. I also tasted bright citrus and green apple flavors.

Since Riesling can often be paired with desserts, I decided to have a bite of chocolate and finish off my glass. I was hoping to taste something different and I did, but only slightly. In my opinion, pairing it with the chocolate lessened the sour note at the end and made it much more enjoyable afterwards.

My glass of Mirassou Riesling

My Life & Wine Thus Far

Hello, fellow wine lovers! This is my first official post on my new Wine Blog for my Geography of Wine class at Virginia Tech. I will hopefully be posting about wine tastings, dinner pairings, vineyards, films about wine, and other delicious topics. For now, I will give you a short introduction into my relationship with wine so far and what I hope to experience with this opportunity.

My first significant wine experience was in Italy in 2010. My family and a couple others went to Italy for 2 weeks the summer after my high school graduation. I tried a few wines, none particularly to my liking, but quickly realized that I preferred white to red.

In college I would occasionally drink white wine, but not enough to become picky about types, especially when money is scarce. But last spring, I spent a semester abroad in Lugano, Switzerland through Tech's Marketing program and found some favorites. I do not enjoy the taste of beer, so I have always searched for other options, including hard cider and wine, many of which were easily available in Europe. Which is a good thing, because cocktails were absurdly expensive in most countries, especially Switzerland (because everything is expensive there). Since then, I have become fond of Riesling and sweeter wines like Moscato. I also enjoyed wine spritzers or mixed drinks with Prosecco, like Sangria, Bellini, Aperol Spritz and a drink in Spain called Tinto de Verano (Summer Red Wine). My options in Europe were numerous and I tried to take advantage of trying new things. Now that I'm back in America, there are certain drinks I miss, like special cocktails and especially hard cider brands.

As for the class itself, I'm looking forward to learning more about wine and why I prefer certain types over others. I'd also like to understand how they are named, what is in different types, what countries/regions are known for, and how to describe a wine without sounding like a fool. My best friend back home and I love to relax with a bottle of wine or go to happy hours around Richmond, VA so maybe I'll be able to order more confidently in the future. She's also looking forward to hearing what I've learned because she likes red and I like white. I don't think JMU offers a class like this one so she's missing out! Hopefully, I'll learn a whole lot and get to show off a little with my friends!

photo source: http://www.idahoconservation.org/images/misc/iStock_000004403602Large.jpg/image