Obscure Wines Class

Here is a summary of the "obscure" wine class I taught to seven other women. We focused on wines that don't always get the most attention, and also those on the rise.

-SPAIN Martin Codax Albariño, 2008, $15
The Albariño grape is a popular grape grown mainly in the Rias Biaxes (northwest corner) region of Spain. Brought by monks in the 12th century, this Galician white was named as the "White from Rhine". These vineyards have the best real estate in Spain, because they grow right along the Atlantic. Naturally, the wine is made for the diet of that region - seafood!

Albariños can be very volatile. They typically carry crisp, tart and slightly tropical characteristics. This one was definitely tart, more concentrated and possibly turned. Other occasions with this wine have been refreshing, filled with peach fruit and have carried a VERY small trace of sea salt. Went over as the least favorite of the three whites, but again, the bottle was not at its best.

-ARGENTINA Alamos Torrontes, 2008, $11
Argentina has two unique wines, Malbec and Torrontes. Malbec is the thunder, but Torrontes is a white wine indigenous to the region on the rise! Torrontes is mainly grown in the Salta region (very northern part of the country) in the high altitudes of the Andes Mountains.

The taste on this one was crispy, refreshing and very floral (a distinct taste profile for Torrontes). The ladies kept asking for more!

-FRANCE Viognier de Pennautier, 2008, $17
Pronounced Vee-oghn-yay, this white wine is from the Rhone region of France (although California has now outpaced France in plantings). Considered a "fickle" grape because often picked too early and unreliable at harvest.

I picked this as a way to diversify the whites, because it tends to air on the sweeter side. This particular one was more acidic with only a slightly sweet finish. I LOVED IT! The sweet notes were that of honeysuckle and pear balanced with a bright, crisp acidity. Try with ahi tuna salad. Yum.

-FRANCE L'Ancien Beaujolais 2008, $18
Grown in the southernmost region of Burgundy, Beaujolais is made from 100% Gamay grapes. Beaujolais Nouveau is a sweeter, lighter style of wine that is released right away as a preview of the next year's harvest. Those same grapes would be aged longer for the first tier of Beaujolais...which is what we had!

This wine was medium-bodied with some darker fruits than I would have expected. The color was very transparent, but the wine had more body than what my eyes told me. Went over well with the ladies and I would definitely recommend this wine for events with many different food pairings...think gobble gobble.
NOTE: Beaujolais Nouveau will be released the third Thursday of November. Mark it!

-PORTUGAL Crasto Douro 2005, $20
I brought this one in because I've heard for some time that Portuguese wines are ones to watch. This country is interesting because before joining the EU in 1986, they were in complete isolation and subsequently left the wine industry undeveloped. Subsequently, they maintained a rich and diverse pool of indigenous vines. All the grapes used in their wines are the same ones they use in port.

This wine was a blend of Touriga Barroca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Cão. This is a softer version of port. The reviews were mixed, but in the end, if you want to try something different, sweeter and fuller, this is for you!

-SOUTH AFRICA La Cave Pinotage, 2004, $27
Similar to Portugal, South Africa's wine history has been affected by its politics. During the Apartheid from the 60s-80s there was a trade embargo that isolated the country. Some of the wine in this region are incredibly unique. Pinotage in particular is the one of their signature grapes - an accidental hybrid from the '30s. This rich, dark red is truly something different!

This wine was awesome (although not everyone agreed). Referring back to my previous posts, I definitely prefer this after the Vinturi. Leather, DARK fruit and smoky notes make this wine very bold. I think some of the ladies would like a fruitier version. In this instance I would recommend a Cabernet-Pinotage blend. Those tend to soften and bring fruit to the forefront. In my opinion, this wine is rich and wonderful! Enjoy it with a big ol' steak.