Dinner - dinner party

I did a dinner party with my parents, and with some other friends. This was my first experience doing a dinner party and I wasn't really sure what to expect. It ended up being really fun though and I'd love to do another one sometime. We had four different wines at dinner. The wines were Da Vinci Chianti, SeaGlass Sauvignon Blanc, Domaine de Mirail Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot, and Opera Prima Pink Moscato. These wines were paired with a salad, focaccia bread & pizza bread, green beans, lasagna, and strawberry shortcake.

The first wine we had paired with a salad. The wine is a Sauvignon Blanc is a 2012 from California in the Santa Barbra County. The wine had a slight grass smell to it, but there was definite citrus on the nose. There was a citrus taste as well as some definite lemon to it as well. I thought this wine was pretty good and was pretty smooth to drink. The wine didn't change much once I had it with the salad. But it was a nice pairing with the salad because the food compliments the citrus in the wine. 

The second wine we had was paired with the focaccia bread and pizza bread. The wine was Domaine de Mirail Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot from 2011 in the Cotes de Gascogne region of France. This wine had a very faint smell to it, but you could tell there was a slight hint of cherry on the nose. It tasted like it was a sweet red. This wine was a little fruity and slightly dry. The fruit in the wine seemed like it was pear flavored. When paired with the bread, it seemed like the wine became a little more citrusy which was nice. I enjoyed this wine.

The third wine was paired with the green beans and lasagna. The wine was the Da Vinci Chianti from 2011 in the Tuscany region of Italy. This wine had a blackberry or black cherry smell to it. There was also a small hint of vanilla in the smell. It had a dry taste but not too try. There was a slight hint of blackberry when tasting the wine. I enjoyed this wine. After having this wine with food, it added a spice to the wine. The spice wasn't too strong though, so I was still able to enjoy this wine.

The fourth wine was the dessert wine and was paired with the strawberry shortcake. The wine was Opera Prima Moscato from Spain. This wine had a slight fruit smell, and it was kind of a fainter fruit smell. It tasted like strawberries. It was really nice, sweet, and bubbly. I loved this wine. It complimented the dessert really well because the wine wasn't too sweet. The taste didn't change once I tried it with the cake.

I really enjoyed doing this dinner and being able to try new and different kinds of wine. It was something that was really enjoyable and we all would like to try again sometime in the future.

Dinner - Palisades (Grenache Blends)

Every Thursday, Palisades does a food and wine pairing. This week's theme was focused on a Grenache blend. This tasting had a pairing of three different foods with three different wines. The three different Grenache blend wines we were able to try were Honoro Vera, Little James' Basket Press, and Loose End. I went to the Palisades tasting with my parents and one of my friends.

This is the spread of our food and wine for the evening. The first wine we had was a Honoro Vera Grenache paired with a goat cheese salad. The second wine was a Little James' Basket Press Grenache paired with Arbol Chili Pork w/ Rhubarb Chutney. The third wine we had was a Loose End Grenache paired with a roasted shallot chocolate thimble with spicy cherry.




The Honoro Vera Grenache is a 2012 from Spain. This wine had a cherry taste to it, and not much of a peppery hint to it at all. I really enjoyed this wine. When paired with the food, I thought this wine didn't change in taste much. I liked that wine taste stayed the same. This wine was good and I would like to have it again.

This is a picture of my mom and I at the tasting. In my hand I have the Little James' Basket Press Grenache. This Grenache is from 2012 in France. This wine had a black cherry taste to it as well as a subtle hint of spice at the beginning which I liked. Once I tried the wine with the pork, it made the spice and pepper really stand out. The pork had some spice t it as well which I think really brought out the pepper in the wine. Once I tried the wine with the food, the wine was a little to peppery for my taste.

The picture to the left is with my friend Katie. The third wine that we tried was the Loose End Grenache from Australia in 2008. This wine had a light cherry taste to it. It was pretty smooth and slightly dry. This wine was slightly sweet but not too much, so it paired well with the chocolate thimble. I really enjoyed this wine. It was my favorite of the night.




This dinner gave me the opportunity to try some different Grenache blends that I wasn't familiar with and gave me the opportunity to try some food I don't typically eat. I'm glad I was able to attend this dinner.

Tasting-Caprice de Bastor-Lamontagne

Name: Caprice de Bastor-Lamontagne

Variety: 60% Semillon, 36% Sauvignon Blanc, 4% Muscadelle

Region: Sauternes

Country: France

Price: $7.95

Year: 2004

Winery review: Very clean, with lemon, mineral and honey aromas that follow through to a medium body. Shows vanilla, apple and melon flavors, with a medium finish. Lightly sweet.

My review: This wine had a nice lemon and honey smell to it. The taste had a definite vanilla and melon flavor to it. It was a nice, light, sweet taste to the wine. I think this wine would be paired well with desserts. I enjoyed this wine.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Torre Castillo Alegre

Name: Torre Castillo Alegre

Variety: 100% Monastrell

Region: Jumilla

Country: Spain

Price: $9.95

Year: 2010

Winery review: 4 months in new American oak barrels. Bright ruby-red. Dried cherry, pipe tobacco and rose aromas, with a hint of woodsmoke. Sweet and fleshy on the palate, with blackberry and cherry flavors complimented by licorice and a suggestion of dried herbs. The cherry and smoke notes repeat on the finish.

My review: This wine had an interesting smell to it. I thought it smelled like a sweet candy, but it took me awhile to be able to identify the smell. The candy smell was almost like Twizzlers. The wine had a cherry taste with a definite tobacco and smoke taste in it. The taste was not exactly what I was expecting to be paired with the smell of the wine. I'm not a huge fan of the strong smoke taste, so I thought this wine was just okay.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Wilson Daniels Merlot

Name: Wilson Daniels Merlot

Variety: 100% Merlot

Region: Central Coast California

Country: USA

Price: $7.95

Year: 2010

Winery review: Made predominantly from Paso Robles grapes, the wine is full-bodied and silky yet robust, with aromas of black cherry and plum and a palate of blackberry, raspberry and blueberry jam laced with vanilla and toast.

My review: This wine has a blackberry and black cherry smell with a slight hint of smokiness on the nose. There is a black cherry taste to the wine. The wine has a very strong smoke taste to it, which I'm not a huge fan of. This wine is okay.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Bricco Dei Tati Rose

Name: Bricco Dei Tati Rose

Variety: 100% Barbera

Region: Piedmont

Country: Italy

Price: $6.95

Year: 2012

Winery review: Fresh with aromas of strawberries, cherries, and rose petals, this is an ideal wine with shellfish, salads, chicken, and appetizers.

My review: This wine has a strawberry nose with a hint of cherry. It has a strawberry and floral taste. This wine was acidic but it was fairly light which was nice. I enjoyed this wine.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Smoking Loon Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Smoking Loon Sauvignon Blanc

Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Region: California

Country: United States

Price: $7.95

Year: 2009

Winery review: This bleached blonde beauty is reminiscent of fresh green apples, pineapple and has hints of hibiscus blossoms. The concentration of zesty lemon and gooseberry fills your mouth leaving notes of thyme and melon behind. The bright acid in this wine gives you a zing while the fruit keeps your mouth watering for more. This wine pairs beautifully with a grilled prawn salad with a grapefruit vinaigrette, veggie spring rolls or grilled tilapia with mango salsa.

My review: This wine had a green apple smell and also a hint of pear as well. The taste had a definite lemon to it and and nice citrusy melon taste to it. It was slightly acidic. I really enjoyed this wine. It would be a nice wine to drink on a nice spring or summer day with the wine being chilled.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Ruta 22 Malbec

Name: Ruta 22 Malbec

Variety: Malbec

Region: Patagonia

Country: Argentina

Price: $7.95

Year: NV

Winery review: Stout and dense from the beginning, with blackberry and violet aromas. Despite being a bold and dark Malbec, this is fresh and composed, with sweet blackberry and cassis flavors. Good on the finish with candied fruit and caramel sweetness.

My review: This wine had a blackberry and slightly sweet smell to it. This wine had a blackberry taste to it as well and a slight smoke after taste. This was not my favorite wine.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Chateau Cerres Sainte Lucie Corbieres

Name: Chateau Serres Sainte Lucie Corbieres

Variety: Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre

Region: Corbieres

Country: France

Price: $4.95

Year: NV

Winery review: Superb dark garnet color with a few reflections of dark orange. Intense nose of ripe fruits, spices, and roasted coffee. The palate is rounded and full, with silky matured tannins and hints of vanilla. This wine is rich and powerful with layers of tannins.

My review: This wine had a slight smell of spice to it. The smell was rather funky and I wasn't a fan of it. There was a hint of coffee in the taste of the wine. It is a full wine and definitely silky. This wine is okay. It didn't have a spice taste like I was expecting, which I liked.

Did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Cresta Azul

Name: Cresta Azul

Variety: Moscatel, Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-o

Region: Vino de Aguja

Country: Spain

Price: $5.95

Year: NV

Winery review: Peach, orange cream and vanilla flavors mingle in this softly bubbly white. Off-dry, but with crisp acidity and a clean finish.

My review: A definite peach smell to the wine with a slight hint of orange in it. This wine was nice and bubbly. It has a peach taste to it and is fairly sweet. I enjoyed this wine.

I did not try this with food.

Tasting-Veleta Tempranillo Rosado

Name: Veleta Tempranillo Rosado

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: Granada

Country: Spain

Price: $3.95

Year: 2010

Winery review: Fresh in flavor and crisp in texture, this dry rose offers berry, tart cherry and light herbal flavors, with firm acidity and a clean finish. Focused and juicy.

My review: This wine had a nice cherry smell to it and some berries in the smell as well. it's pretty light when you first taste the wine. The wine has an herbal after taste. I couldn't really taste any cherry in the wine, which was interesting since it smelled of cherries. I enjoyed this wine. It slightly reminds me of a bubbly Moscato.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Veleta Brut Vino Espumoso Rosado

Name: Veleta Brut Vino Espumoso Rosado

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: Granada

Country: Spain

Price: $3.95

Year: NV

Winery review: Rose salmon with copper reflections. Slow rising fine bubble that forms "lace" and "rosary". In the nose is complex and elegant with red fruit, citric, exotic, fresh flowers, and notes of dry fruits and dry flowers. Fresh, gentle, and alive. Perfectly integrated "perlage" with serious and subtle flavors of dry fruits, pomegranate and lemonade. Long lasting scent of flowers and herbs.

My review: Has a metal and copper smell to the wine. It was a smell I hadn't encountered before with all the wines I've tried. It was a bubbly wine with a citrus taste to it as well as a floral taste to the wine. It was just slightly dry but not too much. This wine was okay, but I would not buy it myself.

Did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz

Name: Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Shiraz

Variety: 100% Shiraz

Region: South Eastern

Country: Australia

Price: $9.95

Year: NV

Winery review: A relatively light, fresh style of sparkling Shiraz, with berries and hints of chocolate picking up just a touch of sweet vanilla on the finish. 

My review: A very strong berry smell to the wine. It has mainly a berry taste to it with lots of bubbles in the wine. It is a pretty sweet wine for being a red wine. I was a little surprised when I tried it. I really liked the bubbles in it. I can tell why this wine should be paired with dessert. I enjoyed this wine.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Tres Ojos Garnacha

Name: Tres Ojos Garnacha

Variety: 100% Grenache 

Region: Calatayud

Country: Spain

Price: $6.95

Year: 2011

Winery Review: This wine has a brick red color with a bouquet of red raspberries, spice and white pepper. The palate is incredibly concentrated and rich. The modern styles of Garnacha in Spain are continuously being perceived worldwide as wines of extraordinarily good quality. This wine is fruity, juicy and shows a great depth, ripe tannins, length but yet with wonderful elegance and lightness. Enjoy with sausages, roasted meats, aged cheeses etc. 

My review: The first smell is definite raspberry but then the spice kicks in after and has a really strong smell to it. It has a fruity taste to it but with a major spice to it (mainly pepper). It's fruity toward the beginning of the taste, but then the pepper rushes in and hits you. I wasn't a big fan of the pepper taste to the wine and would be okay if I didn't have it again.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Montebuena

Name: Montebuena

Variety: 100% Tempranillo

Region: Rioja

Country: Spain

Price: $8.95

Year: 2010

Winery review: Ripe cherry and blackcurrant on the nose and in the mouth. Pliant and seamless in texture, with good heft and back-end energy. Finishes smooth and sweet, with fine-grained tannins providing shape and grip. still on the young side but this wine drinks very well with an hour or so of decanting; it's an excellent value for Rioja.

My review: There is a definite and strong cherry smell to the wine. It is a pretty smooth wine to drink. The wine has a cherry taste to it but a definite smokiness to the wine. I think the cherry is harder to detect because the smokiness overpowers the cherry. I like that this is a red wine that doesn't have much of a spice to it. I thought this wine wasn't bad.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence

Name: Sainte Victoire Cotes de Provence

Variety: 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Cinsault

Region: Provence

Country: France

Price: $8.95

Year: 2011

Winery review: Bright salmon pink; typical of the fresh but warm Provence style. Refined and complex on the nose, with summer fruit and floral notes. Dry and crisp, with a delicate flavor and full texture.

My review: A nice and clear smell. The smell kind of makes me think of the spring with a slight floral smell to it. It is a pretty dry and crisp wine. It has a slight herb taste to it. I can definitely taste the alcohol in it, which I'm not a big fan of. This wine is okay

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Canyon Road Chardonnay

Name: Canyon Road Chardonnay

Variety: 100% Chardonnay

Region: California

Country: United States

Price: $6.95

Year: 2011

Winery review: Medium-bodied wine with notes of crisp apple and ripe citrus fruit with a hint of cinnamon spice. Delicious complement to grilled chicken, lighter pasta dishes or mild cheeses.

My review: I thought this wine had a citrus smell to it and I could very faintly pick up a smell of apple to it as well. I thought there was a pear taste to the wine with some slight apple as well. I thought it was interesting that there was no citrus flavor considering the scent was strong. It is not acidic at all, but a slight oak taste at the end. I really enjoyed this wine.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Potluck Sweet Malbec

Name: Potluck Sweet Malbec

Variety: Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Price: $7.95

Year: 2010

Winery review: Deep red brilliant with violet hints. Complex, fruity, and predominant red fruits. Easy to drink, round with persistent sweetness, very well balanced with sweet tannins.

My review: This wine had a nice sweet and fruit smell to it. I think one of the fruits was a slight smell of raspberry in the wine. When tasting this wine, I thought it was fairly light for a red wine and pretty easy to drink. This wine had some definite sweetness to it, which makes me understand why it is paired with dessert. Even with the sweetness to the wine, it was slightly dry at the end, which I think shows that this is still a red wine. This wine was pretty good.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Domaine de Grange de Payan

Name: Domaine de Grange de Payan

Variety: Grenache

Region: Cotes du Rhone

Country: France

Price: $8.95

Year: 2011

Winery review: Intensely spicy and precise, with lively red berry flavors and a hint of black pepper. The Grenache, which makes up the majority of the wine, is deeper and more powerful, offering cherry and black raspberry qualities lifted by zesty minerality.

My review: I didn't think this wine had a super strong smell that was easy to pick up with my cold. But I was able to detect a slight raspberry smell to the wine. When I would inhale strongly, I could pick up the smell of pepper to it. When tasting the wine, I detected the flavor of cherry to it. I think it also had a slight pepper or zesty flavor to it as well. Being the same grape as the wine before, I thought this one was not as spicy as the one from Spain. I liked the Spain one better because it didn't have the pepperiness to it.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Tinto Figaro

Name: Tinto Figaro

Variety: 100% Garnacha

Region: Calatayud

Country: Spain

Price: $6.95

Year: 2009

Winery review: Figaro is 100% Garnacha, made from a selection of the best grapes grown in the oldest vineyards. While not truly an "oaked wine,"a short stay in oak barrels provides a nice spicy flavor boost. Bright violet. Dark berry and cherry aromas show a jammy aspect. Supple and gently sweet, with good lift to its black raspberry and boysenberry flavors. Smooth and broad on the finish, leaving behind a hint of spiciness. Extremely easy to drink and an excellent value.

My review: This wine had a very berry smell to it with cherry really standing out to me in the smell. Once I tasted the wine I realized it was not as fruity as it smells. The taste definitely highlighted a black raspberry flavor in it. The after taste had a spiciness to it, with also a slight smoke taste to it.

I did not try this wine with any food.

Tasting-Maipe Malbec Rose

Name: Maipe Malbec Rose

Variety: 100% Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Price: $7.95

Year: 2011

Winery review: Intense pink color with violet hints. Fresh red fruit bouquet, strawberry and cherry flavors, balanced acidity, dry and lingering finish. Excellent with tuna or green salad, pasta, spicy Asian dishes.

My review: This wine had a stronger smell, which made it easier to help identify scents while I had a cold. I definitely detected a fruity and berry smell to the wine with a focus of strawberry to it. I smelt more strawberry to it, but when tasting it, I definitely picked up on the cherry taste in it. I thought there was a strawberry taste to it as well, but much more subtle than the cherry. It was a dryer wine than I expected it to be. I thought this wine was good and I enjoyed it.

I did not try this wine with any food.

Tasting-Cortenova Pinot Grigio

Name: Cortenova Pinot Grigio

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Price: $7.95

Year: 2012

Winery review: Brilliant straw color with emerald reflections. Fresh and floral bouquet with a hint of pears, apricots and bananas. Fresh and inviting with bright fruit and an easy drinking style with a pleasing hint of almonds in the aftertaste. Pairs well with seafood dishes, risottos with scampi, spaghetti with clams, sole in white wine. Perfect also as an aperitif.

My review: Let me start off by saying I had a cold this week, and not being able to smell well really impacted my wine tasting experience. This really allowed me to appreciate how much smell influences our wine drinking experience. I thought this wine was definitely a softer smell and was harder to pick up scents with my cold. The little smell I could pick up on was a sweet one. I did think the wine had a pear taste to it. It wasn't a fruity or very sweet white wine which is always a nice change. I thought this wine was good and it was probably my favorite of the week.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Monte Aman

Name: Monte Aman

Variety: 100% Tempranillo

Region: Arlanza

Country: Spain

Price: $5.95

Year: 2009

Winery review: Fermentation of selected grapes in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature. Aging in American oak casks for 5 months followed by 3 months in the bottle before being released in the market. Inky ruby. Ripe cherry and plum on the nose. Smooth and fleshy, with deep dark fruit flavors complicated by bitter chocolate and anise. A spicy quality adds lift and focus to the weighty fruit. Offers an appealing mis of power and energy and drinks very well right now.

My review: The wine has a plum smell to it with some spice also. I thought the wine tasted of cherries with a definite spice to it as well. It was pretty good for red wines. I would like to try this wine with food to see how the food would effect the spice of the wine.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Name: Cortenova Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Variety: 100% Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Region: Abruzzo

Country: Italy

Price: $6.95

Year: 2010

Winery review: Deep ruby red color with violet highlights and a pleasant and fruity bouquet. Full bodied, soft tannins and good acidity. Excellent with pasta dishes and red meats.

My review: The wine had a fruity smell. It was smooth and easy to drink for a red wine. It wasn't an in your face wine, and I thought it would be good paired with food. It did not have a fruity taste to match the fruity smell.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting-Maipe Chardonnay

Name: Maipe Chardonnay

Variety: 85% Chardonnay, 15% Viognier. 

30% malolactic fermentation, 30% was aged in French oak barrels.

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Price: $7.95

Year: 2012

Winery review: Brilliant yellow golden color with green hints. The wine is crisp and filled with white peach, pear, green apples flavors, toasty vanilla. Elegant and luscious wine, well balanced. Crisp and long finish. Pairs well with creamy soups, pork, veal, vegetables.

My review: The wine has a green apple smell. There is a tart taste to the wine like apple. It was easy to drink and I enjoyed this wine.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Villa d' Orvieto

Name: Villa d' Orvieto

Variety: a blend of Grechetto, Procanico (Trebbiano), and Malvasia

Region: Umbria

Country: Italy

Price: $6.95

Year: 2011

Winery review: Fresh and crisp, it has a beautiful, floral bouquet. It is wonderful with appetizers, fish, chicken, and salads.

My review: A very light smell to the wine. It has a crisp taste. Kind of like a typical table wine. I wish I would have tried this wine with some food. This was was good and I'd have it again.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Dibon Cava Brut Reserve

Name: Dibon Cava Brut Reserve

Variety: 45% Macabeo, 25% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada

Region: Penedes

Country: Spain

Price: $9.95

Year: NV

Winery review: Light gold with plenty of bubbles, this wine has aromas of apples and pears with pleasant floral notes. Crisp and light-bodied on the palate, stone fruit flavors are accompanied by a mild minerality and balanced acidity. A delicious sparkler for a great price!

My review: A floral smell to the wine. It is a very bubbly wine and not very sweet at all. It had a slight pear taste to it with some acidity. This wine was okay. It was little to bubbly for me.

I did not try this wine with food.

Dinner - Zeppoli's (The Big Varietals)

Every other Sunday, Zeppoli's does a food and wine pairing. This week's theme was focused on "Big Varietal" wines that were all new world wines. At this tasting we were able to try nine different wines with the food. We were able to try three white wines, four red wines and two dessert wines. The wine list was as follows: Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Moscato and Brachetto d'Acqui.

The picture to the left shows all the food we had at the dinner as well as the first class of wine, the Pinot Grigio. The food we had is as follows: assorted cheeses, a greek salad, spinach and artichoke dip, spaghetti and meatballs, cheese ravioli and cheese bread. The Pinot Grigio was a Torre di Luna from 2011 in Italy. This wine was 13% alcohol content. It has a light, sweet smell to it. The taste was a likght fruit taste that wasn't too strong in any flavors. I thought it was a little more tart than other sweet wines, but it was great! I liked trying this wine with the cheeses and salad because these were both lighter meals, and didn't really effect the taste of the wine.





The picture to the right is me and a friend trying the Pinot Noir. The Pinot Noir is a Coastal Vines wine from 2010, in the Sonoma California region. This wine had a 12.5% alcohol content. This wine had a plum smell to it, but once I tasted it I could taste cherry. There was a definite spice to the wine that was much more enhanced when paired with the spaghetti. It was fairly smooth and tasted pretty good. I don't think I'd want to drink this paired with spaghetti though.

For dessert we had cake to eat with our two dessert wines. The picture to the left shows the cake and Moscato. The Moscato d'Asti is a Famiglia Pasqua from 2011 in the Piedmont region of Italy. It contains only 5.5% alcohol content. I thought this wine had a very sweet smell to it and a very sweet taste. It was almost as if I were drinking sparkling grape juice. It was very easy to drink. The sweetness of the wine as well as it being a sparkling drink made it good for eating dessert.

The wine to the right is the second dessert wine that we had to try. This wine is a Brachetto d'Acqui. This wine is a Banfi "Rosa Regale" from 2010 in Italy. This wine had a very obvious strawberry smell to it. It was a very carbonated wine. It had a very sweet and strawberry taste. For the same reason as the Moscato, I could see why this made a good dessert wine.



The Sauvignon Blanc was a Sierra Cruz from 2011 in the Maule Valley region of Chile. This wine had a citrus smell and taste to it. I thought it had a little more acidity to it than the Pinot Grigio. I had this wine paired with the bread and dip. I thought it was a good pairing and I enjoyed the wine.

The Chardonnay was a Hope Estates from 2009 in the Hunter Valley region of Australia. It has 13% alcohol content. The wine had a melon taste and smell to it, and did not have a super strong fruity taste. This wine had a little more of a tart taste to it. I had this wine with the spaghetti. I noticed that this wine's taste stayed with you longer even when pairing it with food. I thought this wine was good.

The Merlot was a Kenwood from 2010, from California. It had a fruit smell to it that was mainly cherry. It was a dry wine with a spice to it and a cherry taste as well. This wine was okay.

The Cabernet Sauvignon is a Gen 5 wine from 2009 in the Lodi California region. It contains 13.9% alcohol content. It had a very fruity smell to the wine but not so much a fruity taste. It was pretty dry with a definite spice to the wine. I think it was my least favorite of the night.

The Syrah is a Oxford Landing wine from 2011 that is from Australia. It had a pretty sweet and fruity smell to it. The main fruit I tasted in the wine were cherry and raspberry. It was a little dry. I thought this red wine was pretty good. I thought this wine wasn't as spicy was the Syrah that we tried at the Vintage Cellar.

I think my favorite wine of the night was the dessert Moscato wine. One thing I realized after this meal was that I like red wines more once they are paired with food. The dry taste helps when it is paired with food, and then I'm more likely to like those wines. This was a good experience for me to have.

Tasting-Morada Sangria

Name: Morada Sangria

Variety: Sangria

Region: Unknown

Country: Spain

Price: $4.95

Year: NV

Winery review: Morada sangria is a traditional Spanish drink made with red wine and citrus extracts. Garnet color and fresh on the palate. Pasteurization preserves the color, aromas and flavors. 7% Alcohol. It is a very refreshing Sangria with around 85 grams of sugar. Sangria is now one of the hottest items in the beverage industry and it's growing exponentially year to year. Serve well chilled, on its own or with lemonade and slices of fruit like peach, banana or apple.

My review: Super fruity smell to it, and I can definitely smell the lemonade it it. The lemon is almost a distinct smell to it. It is avery sweet and fruity taste. You can definitely taste lemonade, and peaches. It is very easy to drink. It was my favorite of the tasting.

Did not try this wine with any food.

Tasting-Lost Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Lost Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: 60% Shiraz and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Unknown

Country: Argentina

Price: $4.95

Year: NV

Winery review: It is dry and contains subtle tobacco undertones with a black licorice, cherry scent. The oak is in the background. Would pair well hamburger or a steak rather than stand alone.

My review: Has a cherry, oak smell to it. Very dry. A cherry taste to it with a hint of oak to it. Would probably be better with food, because I thought this wine was just okay.

I did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Villa Pozzi Nero D'Avola

Name: Villa Pozzi Nero D'Avola

Variety: 100% Nero D'Avola

Region: Sicily

Country: Italy

Price: $8.95

Year: 2010

Winery review: Very dark purple, with a reddish-violet edge, typical of this grape. Black plums, a hint of licorice and subtle spice, not overly complex but appealing. A big mouth full of juicy black fruit is well structured by tart acidity and soft but distinct tannins.

My review: I can smell the spice in it and smell some licorice to it, kind of like Twizzlers. The wine has some acidity to it and a definite spice. It was an okay taste to it.

I did not have any food with this wine.

Tasting-Tres Ojos Rose

Name: Tres Ojos Rose

Variety: 50% Tempranillo, and 50% Garnacha

Region: Calatayud

Country: Spain

Price: $1.95

Year: 2009

Winery review: This medium rose-colored rosado boasts a spicy red cherry/plum nose with a soft lush attack of red berry fruit flavors and a crisp dry finish. Simple and refreshing and a natural for tapas.

My review: This wine had a cherry smell, and a definite fruit smell. A little bit of a spice taste to it, not super strong though. It definitely has a berry taste to it. The wine is a little dry. This wine is good and I would have it again.

Did not try this wine with food.

Tasting-Les Perles Piquepoul

Name: Les Perles Piquelpoul

Variety: 100% Piquepoul

Region: Cotes de Thau

Country: France

Price: $7.95

Year: 2011

Winery review: Light and young, this is a straightforward but enjoyable selection that would be an ideal match for light fare such as grilled chicken salads or fluke. Apple flesh, nectarine, and sweet citrus oil aromas and flavors appear on the nose and palate, while the short finish is infused with a flavor of green melon rind.

My review: Had a citrus smell to it with a little pear smell. It's nice light drink. It has a citrus taste, and a little apple taste. This wine was good and I would have it again.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting-Gabriella Chianti

Name: Gabriella Chianti

Variety: 100% Sangiovese

Region: Tuscany

Country: Italy

Price: $7.95

Year: 2008

Winery review: This beautiful wine has the very deep red, almost purple, color that you would expect in a Chianti. The first thing you notice is the fruit, balanced by a bit of spice. It's a good dry wine with a bold flavor. Even with it's boldness, this Chianti is velvety smooth.

My review: I thought this was a dry red wine. It had a bit of an acetone smell to the wine. It was a very strong taste to this wine and a little spice to it. I was not a big fan of this wine.

I did not try this wine with any food.

Tasting-Lavarini Valpolicella Classico

Name: Lavarini Valpolicella Classico

Variety: 65% Corvina Veronese, 25% Rondinella and 10% Molinara

Region: Valpolicella

Country: Italy

Price: $6.95

Year: 2010

Winery review: The red ruby color and the dry taste give this wine joviality and cordiality. It is fresh and fruity, with lovely strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors, with nice spice and a silky texture.

My review: This wine had a cherry smell to it. It had a spice taste to the wine. I wasn't a huge fan of this wine. However, it is better than the other spice wines I've tried because it wasn't as strong.

I did not try this wine with any food.

Tasting-Dom de Mirail Cabernet/Merlot Rose

Name: Dom de Mirail Cabernet/Merlot Rose

Variety: Cabernet and Merlot

Region: Cotes de Gascogne

Country: France

Price: $5.95

Year: 2011

Winery review: There is a fresh, crisp character to this light rose. It is eye-watering in its refreshing character, with balancing acidity, smoothing out the edges with a touch of caramel.

My review: Not a strong or sweet smell to the wine. It was hard to tell what the taste was. It had a stronger after taste that I wasn't a fan of. This wasn't my favorite wine, and I probably wouldn't have it again.

I did not try this wine with any food.

Tasting-Norton Torrontes

Name: Norton Torrontes

Variety: 100% Torrontes

Region: Lujan de Cuyo

Country: Argentina

Price: $5.95

Year: 2011

Winery review: Greenish yellow with hints of gold, this Torrontes has intense aromas of white peach, rose petal, and jasmine. Norton Torrontes 2011 is pleasant and well balanced on the palate.

My review: I thought this wine had a floral/nature smell. It wasn't a very sweet wine. I could taste a hint of peach in the wine. I thought this wine was a light and refreshing wine, and I'd like to try this one again.

I did not try this wine with any food.

Tasting-Dibon Cava

Name: Dibon Cava

Variety: 25% Xarel-lo, 30% Parellada, and 45% Macabeo

Region: Penedes

Country: Spain

Price: $9.95

Year: NV

Winery review: The nose offers regal yeast and richness, while the palate has complexity to prop up apple, citrus and grapefruit flavors. Solid from front to back, with health and freshness.

My review: I didn't think this wine has a very strong smell to identify. It was fizzy which I liked. I tasted some grapefruit as well as citrus in the wine. It was a nice wine that I enjoyed and would get again.

I did not try this wine with food.