Three Wines I Give A Thumbs Up

Last weekend I went to a luxurious food and wine reteat in Vermont at Good Commons. I am so grateful to my friend who gave me her spot at the retreat at the last minute because she could not attend. I have been to a few retreats there before. It's such a wonderful place to place to go relax and the people that I have met there just divine.

All the meals at the retreat were made by chefs and a sommelier selected the wines for our wine dinner. I fell in love with three of the wines that I wanted to tell you about:

RivaRose Brut- This sparkling rosé was a hit at our wine dinner and my favorite selection at the retreat! This rosé from Provence has aromas of  fruits, berries and touch of spice.  Pairs wonderfully with a lot of different foods from cheese, chicken, to burgers.  It's one of those sparkling wines that you will want for an evening at home or to take to a soiree. If you want a full sensory experience with it, sip on it while burning  ylang ylang or vanilla. This sparkler will run you around $15 or a little under. It's so going on my top rosés for the summer list.

 

M.A.N. Pinotage-  This wine was served at our wine dinner during the fourth course. Three friends started this winery and used the initials of their wives which happen to spell MAN. South Africa is known for pinotage, sounds like pinot noir but tastes more like shiraz. The grapes in this wine are a cross between cinsaut and pinot noir grapes. To get your senses moving and grooving, sip on this and have some bergemot oil burning in the background. The M.A.N Pinotage will run you around $8 and under. How fabulous is that?

From the winemaker:

We like to focus on the juicier, softer side of Pinotage by carefully managing the fermenting wine.  We are able to emphasise the soft mouthfeel, perfume and expressive fruit of Pinotage. Just a touch of oak maturation means the result is delicate and pretty, with beautiful red berry flavours, a hint of cinnamon and very gentle tannins.

Cooper Hill Pinot Gris- This wine was a favorite during our wine and cheese hour. It's light, crisp, and goes great with cheese. It would be killer paired with some roasted chicken. The Cooper Mountain Vineyards uses classic methods to produce their gris. The aromas in this one are quite delicious, a bit of floral and citrus. Sure to be a crowd pleaser at any event.  Put this one on your list of summer wines or if you want to have an affordable wine at an event or wedding. The cost for this one goes for about $22.00.

Taste Wine Like A Pro

Ever wonder how to taste wine the right way? Here's a video that can help you taste wine the proper way. Expert sommelier and wine educator Marnie Old demonstrates how to evaluate wine using four senses--sight, smell, taste, and texture.  While you may not always follow these rules, it ia good to know how to taste wine like a prop. 

No matter how you sip, just make sure that you are enjoying your wine. Cheers!

Chatzivariti, Good Greek Wine

For over 4,000 years, wine has been a big part of Greek culture, opa!  It is one of the oldest wine producing regions in the world. The first evidence of wine production dates back to ancient Crete.

(Chef and Evangelo Chatzivaritis)

I had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the Greek winery, Chatzivariti, at an intimate tasting at Docks Oyster Bar and Seafood Grill in Manhattan. The winemaker, Evangelo Chatzivaritis, was in attendance to share his passion for wine. Chatzivariti wines are organic and predominately made with Greek indigenous grapes that comes from its estate owned vineyards.

The Eurynome, Roditis was paired with a Bosc Pear and Crispy Goat Cheese Croquet. The light wine has notes of basil, ginger, and apple. The wine is named after the Greek goddess, Eurynome, according to Greek myth she created life. This was my favorite wine of the evening.

Next up we tried the Staphylus, Sauvignon Blanc which was served with a Butter Poached Maine lobster with Belgian endive.This wine was just as wonderful as the Eurynome. I loved the aromas of melon, honey, and orange. It is delightful with seafood, it would also be great with cheeses and fruits.

The third course of Duck and Fava Beans Fricassee went very well with the Staphylus, Cabernet Savignon. I’m not a big fan of duck so I concentrated on the wine. The cab was filled with some of my favorite aromas such as vanilla, tobacco, black cherry, and wild black fruits.

Last but not least was the Skuna Bay Salmon and Fingerling Potatoes was paired with the Eurynome Xinomavro/Negoska. The tender salmon worked well with the spice, olive, and bramble fruits in the wine.

Next time you go to the wine store and want to try something new, look for a Chatzivariti wine. I predict that you will become a fan. Cheers!