Tasting - "Pink Catawba"

Name: St. James Winery, Pink Catawba
Variety: Sweet Rose Wine
Region: Midwestern
Country: United states
Year: 2017
Price: $10
Winery Review: Pink Catawba is fragrant and fruity with a delightful  balance of sweet and tart.

My review:  This wine reminded me of apples.  It was both sweet and tart.  I would not describe the tartness as tannic.  The finish definitely leaves an apple taste in your mouth. 

I tasted this on its own, it tasted good even when not paired with food.

Tasting - "Villa M"

Name: Villa M
Variety: Rose
Region: Piemonte
Country: Italy
Year: 2015
Price: $15
Winery Review: A sweet treat obtained from the natural fermentation of finest grapes.  Delicate and fresh. Serve chilled on it's own, as an aperitif or with fresh fruits and deserts.

My review:  This wine was very subtle to me; it did not have a very strong flavor intensity.  It tasted sweet, but I was not getting much more than that apart from the initial grape flavor.  It was light bodied.

I tasted this on its own, it tasted good even when not paired with food.

Tasting - "Altos Del Plata"

Name: Altos Del Plata
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2016
Price: $10
Winery Review: Intense red with violet highlights, the 2016 Altos del Plata Malbec has great intensity of fruit. Outstanding notes of cherries and forest berries, with subtle notes of caramel, spices and toast provided by oak aging. Important structure, its fruit intensity and roundness are its defining features and make it an elegant wine with high varietal typicity.  

   

My review:  This reminded me of cherries.  It was sweet and rather smooth. 

I tasted this on its own, it tasted good even when not paired with food.

Tasting - "Santa Ema, Select Terroir, Merlot"

Name: Santa Ema, Select Terroir
Variety: Merlot
Region: Santa Ema
Country: Chile
Year: 2013
Price: $13
Winery Review:Our Merlot is made with selected grapes from the Cachapoal Valley. Intensely red in color with exceptionally intense aromas that will recall black fruits, spices, and a bit of tobacco.  The Palate is silky and pleasing with good balance and a persistent finish.  

My review:  It smelled rather heavy.  I could taste the tobacco, and it left a dry taste in my mouth.  I was not getting any spices, but I did taste some fruit.  I could not decide on what the fruit tasted like to me.

I tasted this on its own, it tasted good even when not paired with food.

Tasting- "Wild Fire, Proprietor's Reserve"

Name: Wild Fire, Proprietor's Reserve
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: Texas wine
Country: USA
Year: 2015
Price: $15
Winery Review:Dry and heavy in body.  It features cherry, fresh plum, subtle tomato flavors as well as some vanilla.  It is a bit rustic, showing some leather and tobacco notes. It pairs well with cured meats, pasta dishes, corned based dishes, like polenta, and many Mexican foods.  

My review:  Smells full and heavy. It tasted like a smokey leather. You can definitely taste the plum and cherry in it, but I was not getting tomato.  

I tasted this on its own, it tasted good even when not paired with food.

Tasting - "Legendary, Estate Series"

Name: Legendary, Estate Series 
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Recas
Country: Romania
Year: Unknown
Price: $7
Winery Review: Pineapple, citrus blossom, and white peach aromas prepare your palate for tastes of green apple, lemon zest and apricots. The finish is crisp and acidic. 

My review:  It’s dryer than any other PG I’ve had, slightly fruity. Not sour, so no puckering. Slightly acidic. Smells grassy with a hint of citrus.  Also tasted apple.  My friend that I was drinking with tasted grapefruit, but I was not getting it.  

I tasted this on its own, it tasted good even when not paired with food.

Tasting - "The Naked Grape, Harvest Red Blend"

Name: The Naked grape, Harvest Red Blend
Variety: Red Blend
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: Unknown
Price: $6

Winery review: Our Red Blend's unrestrained character is celebrated with smooth blackberry and robust plum flavors. 

My review: This tasted very dry to me.  I usually drink very sweet wines, so this was a little different than I am used to.  

I tasted this on its own with no food.

Tasting - "Carlo Rossi, Sangria"

Name: Carlo Rossi, Sangria
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Central Valley, California
Country: USA
Year: Unknown
Price: $10

Shop review: University Liquor did not have a review for this wine.

My review:  I enjoyed this wine.  It was very sweet and had a fruity flavor. It tasted less like grapes than other wines I have tried.

I tasted this on its own, it tasted good even when not paired with food.  

Mandatory Intro Post

Your personal experience with wine thus far in in your life! You can write about experiences, or lack thereof, your tastes, what you like, what you don’t like, how often you have tried wine, and in what circumstances. Also, include some things you hope to learn about wine from this course. Be as specific as possible How easy is that to grab 10 points right out of the gate?

My personal experience with wine:

I had a very limited knowledge of wine growing up.  I knew that my mom drinks wine with ice cubes in it.  My older sister only drinks red wine, unless its prosecco.  Most of my family is more interested in beer, but many family trips we would stop at wineries as well as breweries to learn more about the products in general.

I studied abroad in Italy for a semester in college, but at the time I was 19 and wasn't too interested in how wine is made or where it came from(I was more interested in being able to legally drink it).  I went to one wine tasting at the person who described it to us was not very knowledgeable.  I do enjoy wine, and have come to appreciate it more than I did while in Italy.  I personally like white wine more if it is dry, and red wine more if it is sweet. 

In this course I would like to learn more general knowledge about wine.  I am interested to know the more cultural side of it.  I want to learn about how it effects the world in general. I like learning about how things as simple as wine can have a large influence.