Hello world!

I haven't written for a while here! I'm very busy!Trying to study hard and absorb all that information from school. Occasionally I'm still working as a groomer from my home.
But there are more exiting news! I'm putting together my website. And me and my friend from Italy working on a tour! It will be exclusive Taste of Piedmont tour! There is little something, a preview if you wish. To let you know all the wonderful things we can do there!
http://ninawinetravel.com/italy/

Pouilly Fuissé and Pouilly Fumé.

I have written an essay recently and that was my topic. I thought that it was an interesting subject! 
So, what do we know about this two wines?
Do we get confused, when we hear those names?
Pouilly  Fuissé  is a wine that made from Chardonnay grape. Pouilly  Fuissé  is a place in Burgundy,  in the Macconias. Burgundy is a birthplace for Chardonnay grape. Wine made from this grape in this region has it's own characteristics and can age. Also Burgundy has unique soil and terroir perfect for this variety. 
Let's look now at Pouilly Fumé. Also French wine but from different region. Pouilly Fumé is place at Central region of Loire Valley. And this place gave name to a white wine made from Sauvignon Blanc.
It's a dry wine famous for it's minerality and gun powder flavour.
Now we know the difference and we can try those wines. 
We can choose which one we can have with chicken or with goat cheese.

Chateau Toumilon 2003 graves

Lovely Bordeaux! Very round, good balance of tannins and acidity. Subtle bouquet on the nose, aromas of dried fruit, red berries. As well on the palate- soft and rich. Could wait a few years in the cellar. But wonderful right now.

Château Perruchon 2009, Ac Lussac St émilion

Bordeaux-Right Bank France 

 

 

Complex aromas of plum, cedar, chocolate, leather and minerals with a lifted floral note. Lovely concentration on the palate with good balance, and well-integrated tannins and acidity. Flavour replays are consistent with the nose, and lead to a ripe fruit centre. Fresh and medium-full bodied, with emerging minerality. Lovely length to the finish. 

 

 

Wine Tasting

When I do my wine tastings, I want people to have fun. I want it to be memorable and interesting.

This time my theme was Old World- New World. I brought Primitivo and Zinfandel. And I brought two Chardonnays, one from Burgundy another from Chile.

It is so exiting and interesting to try wines that are made from the same grapes, but from different regions andto see how their taste differs!

I had this Chardonnay from Burgundy, it was very nice find - Domaine Gueugnon Remond Grande Réserve Macon-Charnay Chardonnay 2008. Very smooth and satisfying. 

Santa Carolina Chile Chardonnay 2009 - is different, little spicy, more aromatic. 

Dancing Bull Zinfandel 2010 and Sasseo Primitivo 2008. 
It was an interesting experience to see how people change their views on the wine when they taste it with the food.

What I had on the menu:

Appetizers

• Caprese salad on a stick
• Crostini with caramelized pear and goat cheese
• Wild rise salad

Seafood plate

• Shrimp in a batter garlic sauce
• salmon with cream cheese
• fish with tomatoes and green olive tapenade

Meat plate

• serrano ham wrapped chicken
• cocktail meatballs
• lamb cutlets
  
  
  We tried all wines with all kinds of food to see what works for our palate and what doesn't. It was amazing how Primitivo work wonderfully with the food and  was not so great by itself. 
  For dessert I had Eatons mess.
  
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcQF12AlJts 

And with that dessert this sparkling rose  Cremante de Loire Monmousseau was very balanced. Acidity in the wine cut through whipped cream and fruitiness on the wine from Cabernet franc, Pinot Noir and Grolleau tasted nicely with berries in the dessert.

http://ninaswineandfood.blogspot.com/2011/08/what-to-expect-from-my-tastings.html

Amarone

Great Italian wine from Veneto region. Made from Valpolicella grapes.
There is a legend, that Amarone was made by mistake. Usually sweet wine Recioto was made, but something went wrong and wine went dry.  And Amarone was born. Rich, dry, full bodied, high in alcohol and very delicious.

I had Amarone
Farina le Pezze Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2007
 15% alcohol

Intense, fruity, layered aromas-mocha, prune, vanilla, and a little smokiness.
Dry, rich, good balance with tannins. It could age, but great right now.
Rich wine like that would go great with rich roasted meat.