South American Trip Finds

Tannat in Uruguay was very good. Made from the boldest red grape tannat.

Casa Silva Dominga Sparkling Rosé Brut, Cochela Valley. Very pale pink colour with a light strawberry and rose bouquet. Initial red berry taste and dry finish. 8/10

Diablo Crystal Sauv. Bl. Curico Valley 2023, 13%. Steel only. Pale light citrusy 7.5/10

Terrunyo Carminiera 2023. 14.5%. Ruby red. Deep berry bouquet. Stored 9 months in oak. Deep berry taste with perfect tannins. 8.5/10

Marques Casa Concha 2022 Cab. Sauv. Medium-dark ruby colour with a dark berry typical Cabernet bouquet. Dark berry taste and quite dry, with heavier tannins on the finish. Quite dry. Probably much better with food. 7.5/10

I tasted Grenache grape in a vineyard. Small but sweet (see pic) and had large seeds for size of the grape. They deliberately under-water grapes to stress them which makes them smaller and sweeter.

In Mendoza I had Gran Sombrero Cabernet Sauvignon. It was the darkest red I’ve seen (prior to Uruguayan Tannat) - sunlight would not show through it  and it stained the glass. Rich dark berry bouquet. Taste of rich dark berry & Bing cherry. Off-dry with light tannins. Excellent Cabernet! 8.5/10

Wine Tastings

In 2025, I did a very interesting tasting of Austrian wines with Stylianos Stavridis of Wine Tasting Vienna, Hollandstaße 10/1-3, in Vienna (ph +43 650 530 5066; email info@winetastingvienna.com). I booked through GetYourGuide but it can be booked directly. This was the most in depth tasting I’ve ever had (it helped that I was the only one at the tasting). The scheduled tasting included 6 wines but Stylianos added 3 others.

The 6 wines included 4 whites and 2 reds. He added 3 whites which included an ice wine. Most of the wines we tasted were of smaller producers usually making less than 50,000 bottles per year. The 6 included wines are numbered below.

1. Christian Madl Grüner Veltliner Sekt Austria Brut Von den Weißen 2020 [12% ABV My rating - 9.5/10]

Translating an Austrian label.

• The first word(s) are usually the producer, here Christian Madl
• The second word is usually the grape variety, here Grüner Veltliner
• Sekt means sparkling wine made using méthode traditionnelle like Champagne. If not, it is called "frizzante."
• Brut means a dry wine
• Last words before the date are usually the name of the wine, here Von den Weißen

2. Hirsch Grüner Veltliner Ried Gaisberg 1OTW Kamptal DAC 2022 [13% ABV. My rating 9/10]

Some additional labeling.

• Ried means made from a single vineyard, here Gaisberg
• 1OTW is a certification as organic and hand picked
• Kamptal is the region
• DAC is a quality guarantee like AOC, DOC or VQA

3. Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Ried Loibenberg Wachau DAC 2022 [13.5% ABV. My rating 8.5/10]

• Wachau is the region

4. Pfeifer Sauvignon Blanc Vulkanland Steiermark DAC 2021 [12.5% ABV]

•  Vulkanland Steiermark is the region

5. Glatzer Zweigelt Carnuntum DAC 2022 [My rating 9/10]

6. Geselman Blaufränkisch Reserve Mittelburgenland DAC 2022

• Blaufränkisch is the grape
• Reserve indicates a complex wine that has been aged 
• Mittelburgenlan is the region

Other wines tasted were:

Jurtschitsch Ried Heiligenstein Kamptal 2022 [My rating 7/10]

Ehrenhausen Sauvignon Blanc Weingut Poiz 2022 - Goes great with goat cheese according to Stylianos.[This tasted like no other Sauvignon Blanc I have had. Bouquet is fruitier, like a Riesling.]

Eiswein Grüner Veltliner Tschida Burgenland 2020. 160gm sugar! Honey and fruit notes. Goes great with blue cheese according to Stylianos. [Not as sweet as expected, with notes of lychee to me.]

Tasting Notes:
Cheese with wine: the salt and protein in cheese reduces the perception of tannins and increases the fruitiness of red wines. I tasted it with a cheese that tasted like Gruyere. The Alzinger Riesling tasted great with Brie!

Austrian grape varieties: Blaufränkisch, Grüner Veltliner, Sauvignn Blanc, Zweigelt.

Note that weiber Burgunder = pinot blanc, and grau Burgunder = pinot gris.

He recommended MADL Bottle Seal as the best stopper for sparkling wines. He also noted the Wachau region is an excellent place to tour.

He also recommend a friend of his, Thierry, who does a wine tasting in Paris at Wine Tasting in Paris.

Weingut Mayer an Pfarrplatz Wiener Gemischter Satz 2023

Discovered on a trip to Vienna, Gemischter Satz wines are a mixture of many wine grape varieties. "Gemischter Satz" is German for "mixed set."

This a smooth drinking wine with a light taste. Weingut Mayer an Pfarrplatz are one of the premier wine makers and Heurigers in Vienna.

From the label: "This traditional company has been based in Döbling, Vienna since 1683. Vienna is the only metropolis in the world that has significant viticulture within its city limits and is unique in its terroir. The House of Mayer is considered a synonym for Viennese wine quality and Heurigen culture."

 

Enomatic

I saw the Enomatic wine dispenser first in Tbilisi, Georgia at the 8000 Vintages store, and then at 13,5° Bar de Vins in Andorra. The patron is given a card about the size of a credit card that is inserted into the Enomatic machine. You select the wine you want and the size, usually from 125ml for a sample up to a small glass then a large glass. The amounts for each selection can be set by proprietor but the sample sizes are typically 125ml. When you are finished the card is returned to a staff member who will tally up the amount sampled on the card.

The advantage of this system is being able to sample many wines at a relatively low price and without waiting for staff to pour each sample. In each location I tried 8-10 wines.

Italian Wines

An interesting map of the wine regions of Italy

I tried 5 Italian wines at the Armagh Food & Cider Festival, particularly at the Long Meadow Cidery 5 course dinner held on Sept 6, 2024 at their very fine Bramley Barn dining room. Five wines were sampled; one with each course. I had not heard of any of the italian wines. The two whites to accompany the starter and entree were okay. Both were quit minerally but not outsatnding. Of the three reds sampled the best was the Canace Nero di Troia from Puglia.It was rich, bold and spicy with light tannins and a lingering berry flavour. Excellent! It went very well with the beef main. 8.5/10

The whites were Vesevo Falanghina from Campania (like an unoaked chardonnay but more minerally) and Pipoli Greco/Fiano from Basilicata (had more body than the Vesevo and a little more minerally – quite nice). The other two reds were Edizione (very dry and too tannic) and Il Nostro Vin Santo Chianti (which was not a good choice to accompany the dessert as it was not sweet enough)

Wine Glasses

There are so many shapes and sizes mode for wine, many of which are intended to enhance the drinking experience. From bulbous still wine glasses to the slender Champagne glasses. 

One unusual design is the sipping glass for port. It is supposed to improve the continued taste of the wine by not disturbing the surface which thought to over-oxidize the wine.

Port wine sippers

European Wine Festivals

La Paulée de Meursault – Burgundy, France
This festival is held every year in the small town of Meursault and is a celebration of Burgundy’s famous white wines. During the festival, attendees can taste a wide range of wines from the region, including some of the most famous and sought-after wines in the world. In addition to wine tastings, the festival also features live music, food, and other entertainment.

Vinea le Salon (Vinea Wine Fair), Sierre, Switzerland
Vinea is the leading event for wine lovers. On the programme: outdoor tastings and a host of events focusing on the world of wine.
VINEA was founded in 1994 with the first Rencontres vinicoles in Sierre, Valais, Switzerland. Since then, VINEA has become a major skills-based player, organising initiatives to support Swiss viticulture and wines at regional, national and international level. Location: Place de l'hotel de ville, Sierre. November 15 & 16, 2024. (It is a 2hr train ride from Geneva.)

Wine Festivals

Niagara Icewine Festival, Metro Toronto Convention Centre
January 12-14, 19-21 & 26-28, 2024

Over three weekends in January is a celebration of Icewine. Purchasing a Discovery Pass allows entry into a selection of wineries: "Uncover the wonders of Niagara's winter wine country through our Icewine Discovery Pass program! Indulge in the region's celebrated "liquid gold" dessert wine, famed for its intense flavors and unparalleled smoothness. Join us in celebrating this exquisite delicacy, as Ontario stands as one of the few places in the world where it flourishes year after year. Delight in six unforgettable seasonal tasting experiences at some of Niagara's top wineries."

There is a special Niagara-on-the-Lake Icewine Festival with various events from the 13th to the 28th of January.

London Wine & Food Show, London, Ontario
January 12-13, 2024

The Agriplex at Western Fair District, 845 Florence St., London ON, N5W 6G6

London Wine Festival, London, UK
Date TBD

"Join us for three unforgettable days filled with the finest vintages, tantalizing street food, beats that’ll make you move, and a line up of exciting activities that’ll turn every moment into a memory. It’s time to indulge, have a blast, and toast to the ultimate camaraderie!"

Red Wine Boldness Chart

An interesting chart showing the boldness of red wine:

Babich Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Another great wine from New Zealand, this SB has a crisp just off-dry citrusy taste with a hint of lychee. From the Marlboro region it is a good alone or with seafood or poultry.

Sampled wines

Some wines I've tried recently and would buy again:

Spinelli Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, 2020

Cline Voigier 2018, California

Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Coonawarra, Australia

Delta Estate Pinot Noir 2017, Marborough, New Zealand

7 Deadly Zins Lodi Old Vines 2017, California

Fantini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, 2020

Kendall-Jackson Cabernet Sauvignon Vintner's Reserve 2017, California

Cigar Box Old Vine Pinot Noir 2017,

Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier Riesling 2016, Mosel

Asúa Reserva Rioja 2016, Spain

Beauvignac Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella, 2016

Victoire Brut Champagne, France

This summer's Rosés

I've been trying a number of rose wines to see which are both excellent value and make a good quaff in the summer heat.

Yet to try: Freixenet Italian Rosé

Kim Crawford Rosé. One of the truly great rosés with great balance. The best quaffing wine on a hot day, or as an accompaniment to seafood. Natelie MacLean rates it a 90. I agree. 9/10

Remy Pannier Rosé D'Anjou. A light, off-dry rosé with strawberry as the predominant nose and taste. A great quaffing wine all by itself. 8/10

Rustenberg Petit Verdot Rosé 2019. Strawberry colour, light red berry bouquet. Light strawberry taste, off-dry. 7.5/10

Paul Mas Rosé. LCBO - "This elegant and fruity rosé is made with a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah grapes. Intense aromas reveal white peach and redcurrant with floral and herbal notes. Medium-bodied, with flavours of fresh red fruit and a subtle hint of mint on the palate. Enjoy it chilled, paired with seafood, shellfish and fresh salads." 7.5/10

Ventoux, Rhone Valley Wine by Ogier. A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault grapes. Dry with a light berry taste. Good with pork or seafood, or with cheese. 7/10

Aveleda Fonte Vonho Verde Rosé. A pale strawberry colour with a strawberry & peach bouquet and taste. 7/10

François Dulac Cotes de Provence 2019. Peach colour. Peach and berry bouquet. Strawberry, peach and red berry taste. 7/10

Muga Rioja 2019. Light peach colour. Light peach and strawberry bouquet. Strawberry and peach taste. 7/10

La Baume Rosé 2021. Light strawberry-peach colour. Light peach and strawberry bouquet. Just off-dry with a strawberry and peach taste. 7/10

Gran Feudo Rosado 2019. Strawberry colour with cherry and berry bouquet. Cherry and red berry taste. 7/10

Listel Grain de Gris Rosé. Light strawberry color and a strawberry and peach bouquet. A dry taste with hints of strawberry and peach. 7/10

Cono Sur Bicicleta Reserva Pinot Noir Rosé. Minerally-berry bouquet. Off-dry berry taste with berry aftertaste. 7/10

Les Jamelles Clair de Rose. A very nice dry rosé from France. Light berry bouquet and taste. 7/10

Thalia Rosé. "Vibrant medium pink colour with violet hues. A blend of Agiorgitiko and Cabernet Sauvignon this rosé has an aromatic character of red fruit with white pepper notes. Soft with a creamy mouthfeel, it has a well-balanced mid-palate with good structure and crispness." - LCBO. 7/10

Villa Maria Rosé. Light berry bouquet and taste, off- dry. 6.5/10

Botter Oggi Pinot Grigio Rosato Doc Delle Venezie. A nice light, dry rose with hints of citrus and apple. 6.5/10

Doppio Passo Rosato 2021. Pale strawberry colour with a berry and mineral bouquet. Dry with light strawberry and red berry taste. 6.5/10

Lafage Miraflors Rosé. Peach colour and bouquet. Off-dry with light peach taste with light aftertaste. 6.5/10

Gérard Bertrand Cote des Rosés 2019. Light peach colour. Light berry and flinty bouquet. Off-dry light berry taste. 6.5/10

La Gordonne Font Freye 2019. Light peach colour. Light red berry bouquet. Light, crisp, dry red berry taste. 6.5/10

Domaine des Carteresses Tavel 2019. Strawberry red with strawberry and berry bouquet. Dry berry taste. 6.5/10

Berne Méditerranée 2019. Light peach colour. Very light berry bouquet. Light red berry taste, off-dry and crisp. Good chicken or fish accompaniment. 6.5/10

The Beachhouse 2020. A South African rosé with a light peach colour and very light berry bouquet. Off-dry taste with pronounced strawberry and more subtle red berry. 6.5/10

L'Orangeraie Rosé. Very light bouquet and colour. Very dry with a light red berry taste. 6.5/10

Francois Dulac Côtes de Provence Rosé. Very light bouquet and colour. Dry with a light red berry taste. 6/10

Stemmari Rosé 2019. Light color and bouqute. Dry, light red berry taste. 6/10

Grand Sud Rosé Merlot 2019. Light peach colour. Light strawberry & peach bouquet. Dry, light strawberry taste. 6/10

Trius Rosé. Dry with a very light taste, but with a strong minerally aftertaste. 4.5/10

New Year's bubblies

I like Champagne and Mumms is my favourite. See my Bubblies website dedicated to sparkling wines.