Our merry band of eight wine-seekers are on a quest to discover the true "King" of the Napa Valley mountains. Of course, we know it will be a Cabernet Sauvignon, but there are many candidates from different mountains, vineyards, winemakers and blends. But this group is not easily daunted - we plan to leave no grape leaf unturned.
The plan is to visit four high-elevation areas: Pritchard Hill, Howell Mountain, Diamond Mountain and Spring Mountain. We have started the list of wineries in these AVAs based on familiarity, recommendation and curiosity. We will also visit other wineries off the mountains - these are mostly our "favorites" along with a few we have always wanted to visit but just haven't yet.
First step: Secure accommodations in a convenient location. We usually stay in one of the chain hotels. They are nice, but the experience isn't very unique. This trip we wanted to find a house to rent - we thought it would save us money and provide us a place to hang out, enjoy the experience of being in wine country. Ideally, we wanted a house with a view and vineyards nearby. Thanks to VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) we found a great house on Howell Mountain, with a huge deck and... vineyards!! We are really looking forward to staying here!
We have been on many trips to Napa & Sonoma; planning the trip is half of the fun for me. This blog will be a way for me to chronicle the stages of this trip.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Exploring wines of the world, Part 1
As a Certified Specialist of Wine, I have learned about every wine making region in the world and studied nearly every grape used to make wine. With all of this knowledge, I still find myself reaching for the "comfort zone" of California Cabernet and Pinot Noirs. In the interest of expanding and refining my palate, I decided to try a couple of Italian wines in the cellar.
I found two bottles Montipulciano d'Abruzzo - a red Italian wine made from the Montepulciano wine grape in the Abruzzo region of east-central Italy.
The first wine was a 2008 Catina Zaccagnini Montipulciano d'Abruzzo. This wine is an aromatic, deep dark inky purple. Lovely blackberry fruit laced with cherry flavors. It was very enjoyable; however, the longer I left it open, the less I liked it.
The second wine, a 2009 La Fiera Montipulciano d'Abruzzo, deep purple in color, with a light spicy aroma. Cherry fruit and soft tannins dance on the palate. This one opened up very nicely and had a smooth finish.
Knowing what to expect when choosing a wine is just one part of the wine experience. Sometimes you just have to take a chance, do a little stretching of your palate. Don't be afraid to try something new. Do your research, read about different wine regions, different grapes and blends. Be adventurous and enjoy the journey!
I found two bottles Montipulciano d'Abruzzo - a red Italian wine made from the Montepulciano wine grape in the Abruzzo region of east-central Italy.
The first wine was a 2008 Catina Zaccagnini Montipulciano d'Abruzzo. This wine is an aromatic, deep dark inky purple. Lovely blackberry fruit laced with cherry flavors. It was very enjoyable; however, the longer I left it open, the less I liked it.
The second wine, a 2009 La Fiera Montipulciano d'Abruzzo, deep purple in color, with a light spicy aroma. Cherry fruit and soft tannins dance on the palate. This one opened up very nicely and had a smooth finish.
Knowing what to expect when choosing a wine is just one part of the wine experience. Sometimes you just have to take a chance, do a little stretching of your palate. Don't be afraid to try something new. Do your research, read about different wine regions, different grapes and blends. Be adventurous and enjoy the journey!
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