Washington Wine and Cheese

I’m finishing up gathering the last two wines for my class this Tuesday (11/27/2007). The theme I have come up with is one that I have thought about for a long time. The theme is “wines from places you might not have ever been”.

No, it’s not going to be a berry wine from Hawaii or some obscure grape from a third world country. These wines are some of my favorites of all time. I’m even going to be pulling about three bottles of one wine out of my own cellar just so I can have enough to share it with everyone, since I could not find anymore around town.

We will be having a wonderful Rhone style wine that I found on a great deal with the help of another member of class. We were out and about on one of my days off and found this wine.

Another of the wines is something that I found by asking two people at the wine store (store owner and a friend that works there). I said, “If you could recommend one red wine around $20 what would it be?” They both said separately the same wine. I tried it and then bought a case for class.

More to come once I have finished picking up my last wine, which is going to be a white.

1. 1995 and 1997 Vignobles Biresbarre Vouvray Dem-Sec (UnWined) - $19.99
2. 1999 Marco Maci’s - Corte Barocca Salento IGT Primitivio (A. Litteri’s) $3.99
3. 2002 Plan Pegau (Mills Wine) - $9.00
4. 2005 Paoletti Vineyards - Piccolo Cru (Bell’s) - $19.99
5. 2002 Rusden Grenache Christines (Wide World of Wines) - $44.99

Cheeses (Rick’s Wine and Gourmet)

1. Varcherin (Swiss Washed Rhine) - $12.99
2. Grafton Cheddar (Aged 2 yr) - $10.99

It’s not too late to change your travel plans and leave Wednesday morning!!!! On Nov. 20th, Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar presented a tasting featuring five Zinfandels from California. It seems only fitting that as we prepare to feast on one of the most traditional of American holidays, that we break from the usual tradition with a tasting of a truly American wine . . . ZINFANDEL! Although Zins are not usually considered your typical turkey wine, the fruit and balance of these wines may sway your opinion of the perfect complement for sweet or mashed potatos, gravy, and stuffing.Our wine selections will feature two wines from Napa Valley, two from Amador, and one from Lodi. The wines come from vintners Dominican Oaks, Sobon, Santino, Oak Ridge, and Titus. Two of the wines are characterized as “medium-bodied” and the other two as “full-bodied.” One is organically farmed, and all five will knock your socks off! The wines exemplify the spice, pepper, berry, and rich flavors that characterize Zinfandel. Frankly, the rich descriptions remind me of all my favorite Thanksgiving dishes!

Our selection of Zins will be accompanied by a morbier, a sharp cheddar and crusty bread. If you’re hosting Thanksgiving and your guests are already in town, feel free to bring them but keep in mind that we can only accommodate the first 96 tasters.

As I count my Thanksgiving blessings this year, I am thankful for ZINFANDEL!!!!!!! I look forward to sharing these wines with you tonight.

1. 2005 Domincan Oaks Zinfandel Napa - $14.99
2. 2005 Sobon Reserve Zinfandel - $24.99
3. 2003 Santino Zinfandel Old Vines - $15.99
4. 2005 Oak Ridge Zinfandel - Lodi $15.99
5. 2004 Zinfandel - Napa $24.99

Wine from Total Wine and More

Cheeses:

1. Horlick Sharp Cheddar - $9.49
2. Morbier - $9.99

From Calvert Woodley

Wines from Pearson’s:

1. N/V Cristalino Rose,Cava (Pendes, Spain) - $8.00
2. 2006 Tres Picos, Granacha (Campo de Borja,Spain) - $13.00
3. 2003 Vigne Vecche Primativa (Salento, Apulia, Itlay) - $20.00
4. 2003 Amarone, Zardini (Verone, Italy) - $39.00
5. N/V Madeira, Brodbent, Fine/Rich (Madeira) - $18.00

Cheese and bread from Calvert-Woodley:

1. Blue Castello, Triple Cream Bule from - $??.00
2. Asiago, (the real Asiago),Sheep’s Milk from Italy - $??.00

A representative from Alexander Valley Winery will be coming in to lead a Cabernet Sauvignon component tasting for us. Alexander Valley is prestigious family-owned winery in northern Sonoma County, California. Most of their production is reds. In addition to their great Cabernet, they produce several Zins (with labels you will love) and a great dry Gewurztraminer (called “New Gewurz”).

The tasting will be broken into two parts. First, we will have a guided tasting of the components of their 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. Five wines go into the blend–Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec (i.e. all of the Bordeaux varietals). You will have the opportunity to taste each of them, then compare them to the finished Cabernet Sauvignon. We will then have a “palate cleansing” break with the “New Gewurz” (bottles shared between tables) and move on to the 3 Zinfandels. There will be 3 different appellations (California, Alexander Valley, and Dry Creek Valley), so you will have a chance to compare the flavor nuances of the different styles and appellations.

I selected two special cheeses to go with the wines, both of which should pair very well with the red wines. One of them is new to us–Garrotxa from the Catalonian part of Spain. It is an aged goat milk cheese. The other is an old favorite, Gorgonzola Picante from Italy. And Carlos has promised me a very good one!

1. 2005 Estate Cabernet (Alexander Valley) - $25

2. 2006 New Gerwurz - $12

3. 2005 Temptation Zinfandel (California) - $15

4. 2005 Sin Zin (Alexander Valley) -

5. 2005 Zin (Dry Creek Valley) -

Cheeses:

Garrotxa (aged goat from Catalonia)

Gorgonzola Picante (cow’s milk blue cheese from Italy)

Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar proudly presents Chateauneuf-du-Pape! This is a special $25 tasting featuring five excellent examples of the renowned C-du-P region. We have strained the budget to be able to present a tasting with not just one or two, but all five C-du-P wines! Four of the five wines are rated 90 points or higher, and one of the producers is receiving widespread recognition, at only 25 years old, as THE up-and-coming wine maker of the C-du-P region. These wines are bold, rich, luscious, and a real treat for us to present. Accompanying these wines, we will provide two excellent cheese and crusty bread.

1. 2004 Le Cep - $16.99
2. 2005 Clos St. Michel - $29.99
3. 2005 Dom Presidente - $24.99
4. 2005 Chante Cigale - 24.99
5. 2005 Clos St. Michel Reserve - $39.99

Cheeses:

1. Parrano - $9.99
2. Epoisse - $17.98