12 January 2008

Wine Tasting

Last night I had the most wonderful going away party with wonderful friends, food, and wine. Bruce Cochran who lives here in Arkansas came to the party to share 6 fantastic wines from different regions in Italy. Since I just started to really like wine in the past two years (thanks to spending some time in Italy two years ago), I usually like to stick with white wines... a Pinot Grigio or while in Italy just the white house wine. I was happily surprised that each wine I tried I enjoyed. Traditionally in tasting you need to start with the lighter wines and get darker... the reds are more complex in flavor, and then end with a dessert wine of some kind. The wines we tried in order:Pinot Grigio from Trentino. Ferra & Perini (white)
Malvasia from Emilia-Romagna. Giannelli de Maris, Vigna Case Rotti 2005 (white)
Barbera from Piedmont. Ferra & Perini (red)
Chianti Classico from Tuscany. Ruffino Aziano 2005 (red)
Nero D'Avola from Sicilia. Nu Har, tentua rapitala (red)
Malvasia Dolce Frizzante from Emilia-Romagna. Rosa di Bianca (white semi-sparkling dessert)
It wasn't a wine tasting where you sip the wine, find all of the flavors and spit it out. It was relaxed and as we sipped our wine, Bruce shared with us the region the wine came from, the grapes, and the difference between a $100.00 bottle of wine and a $10.00 bottle of wine. As much as I love to spit good wine into a jar, I really would rather just sit in good company, drink good wine, and have good conversation. And because of that, last night was perfect.

(the picture is of each wine in order that it was tasted)

1 comment:

Erin said...

I'm glad your party went well! I'm sad I had to miss it, but soon you'll be here and we can enjoy some good Spanish wine. Perhaps we'll do a little sangria tasting. I still don't know the best places to eat or go out... I don't ever eat out. Maybe I can ask around for some recomendations. We'll have to talk soon so I can figure out your plans. I hope you're getting excited!