Wine Tasting - White Zinfandel

 

Name: Winking Owl White Zinfandel

Variety: White Zinfandel

Region: California

Country: USA

Year: NV

Price: $3

Winery Review: A light-bodied wine with subtle flavors of cranberry and watermelon with notes of fresh strawberry and cherry

Wine Folly: From page 189 Zinfandel - I get the notes of strawberry in both the taste and aroma of the wine; I also get the notes of peach preserves, but not the cinnamon, blackberry, or sweet tobacco. This might be since it's a white zinfandel instead of a more fuller pure zinfandel. This drink is not high in tannins and it doesn't have a full body like the book states. It is a very fruit-forward wine. 

My Review: I thought this was a very good wine, especially for it being so inexpensive! It's very fruity and light, but it is more semi-sweet than pure sweet. It definitely is a very light wine, and it has a good balance. I would buy this wine again! 

Wine Tasting - Riesling

 Name: Relax Riesling 

Variety: Riesling

Region: Mosel

Country: Germany

Year: 2020

Price: $10.99

Winery Review: From the vineyards of the Mosel wine region, these Riesling grapes ripen in slate and mineral soil and are harvested based on their optimal taste and ripeness. Cold fermented in stainless steel tanks, this wine brings a natural acidity, providing a perfect balance that is refreshingly crisp and leaves your mouth watering for more. RELAX Riesling is fermented slightly dry with a wonderful fruity bouquet and intense flavors of apples and peaches with just a hint of citrus.

Wine Folly: From page 158, Riesling - I do get the notes of green apple and lime. I also get a hint of petroleum in both taste and aroma. I did not get the notes of jasmine or beeswax. Unlike what it says in the page, I would say that this wine is more medium sweet than very sweet. I also note the wines light body. In page 236 it states that there can also be notes of apricot which I also got.

My Review: This was my first time having Riesling wine, and it was great! I am more into sweet wines, but this one was more medium sweet and it was delicious. I think this was a great wine to jump to when I am more used to the sweeter stuff. It states that Riesling is quite acidic, but this one was not. I would 100% buy this again!

  

Wine Tasting - Pinot Grigio

Name: Cupcake Vineyards Pinot Grigio

Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio

Region: Livermore, California

Country: USA

Year: 2021

Price: $10

Winery Review: Our Pinot Grigio is crafted from grapes sourced from the foothills of the Italian Alps, making for a uniquely flavorful wine. The grapes are grown in the cool climate of the Veneto region in Northeast Italy, where the Alps help protect the region from the cold winds that come from the North, while the Mediterranean heat provides the perfect climate for ripening. After harvesting, the grapes are quickly transported and softly pressed to ensure maximum freshness. This refreshing Pinot Grigio showcases delectable flavors of fresh pear, cantaloupe, apple, and pineapple that lead to a crisp finish with subtle notes of honey and lemon zest.

Wine Folly: From page 149 for Pinot Grigio - I can taste the lemon, and I get the light body. I also get notes of cantaloupe. It is not as sweet as the book states; I would say that it's tart. Lastly, I do get the high acidity. 

My Review: Overall it is a light, and quite refreshing wine, but it was too tart/acidic in taste for my liking. I tried this wine alone and with chicken alfredo, and I enjoyed it much more with food than alone. The pasta helped express the wines flavors at a much stronger level which was great to experience! If there was some sweetness to balance out the acidity in the wine, then I would definitely buy this again.  

Wine Tasting - Brut Rose

Name: Taralyn Brut Rose Sparkling Wine

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: Modesto, California

Country: USA

Year: NV

Price: $13.99

Winery Review: Taralyn Brut Rose is sparkling wine from California with crisp notes of cranberry and raspberry. Named Taralyn, Gaelic for “Star on the Hill”, the bright effervescence and soft sparkling bubbles remind us of a brilliant starry night.

Wine Folly: From page 150 Pinot Noir - when drinking it, it definitely is a very light bodied drink. I also taste the raspberry notes and a little of cherry, but I do not get the clove, mushroom, or vanilla notes. It's also low on sweetness. Page 16 & 17 - since it is a brut sparkling wine it does taste dry, but it's not too dry.   

My Review: I thought this was a really good sparkling wine; overall it's a good level of dry and it's not too sweet. I think it would pair really great with food which I will try next time I drink it. The raspberry note was also really nice without it being too overpowering. I would definitely buy this again!

Wine Tasting - Pink Moscato

 

Name: Barefoot Pink Moscato

Variety: Primarily Muscat Blanc 

Region: Modesto, California

Country: USA

Vintage: NV

Price: $6.99

Winery Review: This deliciously sweet wine has flavors and aromas of Moscato with additional sweet layers of juicy red fruit. Subtle notes of cherry, raspberry and pomegranate complement its vibrant finish. Pink Moscato is versatile and pairs well with spicy appetizers, Chinese take-out or fresh strawberries and whipped cream.

Wine Folly: From Pg. 138 Muscat Blanc - I taste the sweetness of the wine, and light body. I also tried the wine when it was chilled like the book recommended, and I think that really helped the flavors pop through. I cannot find most of the taste notes mentioned in the book, but I am also not very familiar with them. Maybe I can pick up those tastes as I try more wines. The notes may also be hidden by the juices added in order to make the wine pink in color. 

My Review: I think this wine is really good! It has the tastes of red berries/fruits, and it is quite a refreshing drink (especially when served chilled). It is a light wine, that I think would be good to serve when eating. I would 100% buy this again!

I did not eat anything when tasting the wine.

My Experience with Wine!

My first ever experience with wine was around three years ago, and I did not like it one bit. From that one sip, I just assumed that I wouldn't be much of a wine person. However, it turned out that I just drank the wrong wine (at least wrong in the sense that it did not match my specific taste). When last semester came around I had new roommates who LOVED wine, so I decided to give it another shot. I started to ask for recommendations and immediately began my wine journey. 

As a college student on a college student budget, I thought that most wines would be somewhat pricey since wine is always made out to be this really fancy drink; however, I have found some wine brands that are very affordable and actually really good. So far I was able to find these affordable wines at Target and Aldi, but I'm sure that there are many other places in which good and inexpensive wines are available. With that being said, I haven't tried many of the more expensive wines, but I would like to. I've always wanted to know if the more expensive stuff was truly better or if it's about the same. 

When I decided to drink wine at home it would mostly be due to a wine night with friends, or if I just wanted to drink a glass in order to help relax after a long day. I had also begun to drink wine occasionally when I make more intricate meals. However, it wasn't a wine that was specifically paired for the food I was making, it was just any wine that I had at the moment. 

By taking this course, I hope that I get to broaden my taste in wine, have an understanding of wine pairings, and an understanding of the differences between each kind of wine. I wanna be able to drink more than just the sweet stuff (this includes Rosé and sweet reds). Most of all, I would really love to be able to pair a wine with a specific meal or food.