What a beautiful weekend filled with family, friends and celebrations! In between all the get togethers, I did some fall cleaning and made my first batch of pumpkin muffins. An appreciative audience gobbled up the muffins very quickly. I’ll definitely be making lots more! ![]() The “much anticipated” Clinton/ Trump debate is airing this evening. A few friends said that they will need something much stronger than wine to sit through it. So, I’m lining up an arsenal of analgesics to carry us through the evening. What will you be drinking? Have a great start to the week!
Cheers! Penina
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Even though it’s only 11:00 am and already 75 degrees outside, I’m being lured into the excitement of autumn. I just bought my first pumpkin of the season. And, I’m baking up a batch of pumpkin muffins this weekend. While at the Wines of Burgundy tasting a few days ago, I met Luis Pannunzio, Director of Las Piedras Pura VID of Mendoza, Argentina. This family run business began with his father, Giovanni Vincenzo Pannunzio who emigrated to Argentina from Italy in 1952. His sons José and Luis now continue the tradition of winemaking that their father began. The vineyard is located in Barrancas, Maipu where attention and respect is paid to honoring the environment. I tasted two 100% Malbecs. The first was his entry-level wine, a 2014 GV Pannunzio Malbec. Aromas of dark fruit segued nicely onto the palate. The tannins were soft with a nice finish of berries. This is not available in the US yet, but keep your eye out for it! SRP About $9 The 2014 GV Pannunzio Malbec Grand Reserva was very aromatic with lots of red fruit and a touch of floral. The palate offered dark berries, spice and licorice. Medium tannins and well balanced, this is an easy wine to serve with a variety of food. SRP About $20 http://www.laspiedraspuravid.com More reviews to follow soon!
Happy Friday! Cheers! Penina ![]() Monday was a rainy day. And, what better way to spend it than sampling wines of The House of Burgundy’s 2016 Grand Annual Tasting inside the ballroom of The Harmonie Club in NYC. ![]() Many countries and producers were represented at the event. I began my tour tasting wines from countries that I had never tried before, such as Bulgaria, Turkey, Lebanon and Japan. I then explored wines from Argentina, France, Greece, Italy and the USA. In addition to the wines, I tried a wonderful spirit from Turkey called Efe Raki. I heard countless and fascinating stories about wineries steeped in history and I tasted some memorable wines that I would love to share with you. Since I am short on time today, I’ll tell you about a few wines/spirit and save the rest of my stories for future posts. I was quite impressed with Vini Wines from Bulgaria. Imported by Bulgarian Masters Vintners and produced specifically for them, Vini Wines is the best-selling Bulgarian wine brand in the U.S. The wines are produced in Bulgaria’s Southern Thracian Valley, an area that has a long history of wine production. The 2015 Vini Sauvignon Blanc (100%) was crisp with notes of citrus and peach. Nice acidity and a pleasing finish make this an easy wine to pair with many foods. The 2015 Vini Pinot Noir (100%) was full of dark fruit and spice with hints of cherry. The tannins were ripe. Spice and hints of vanilla lingered on the finish. All the Vini wines have an alcohol content that ranges from 12% to 13%. The price point is around $8.99 and worth exploring! Heading over to Turkey, I was dazzled and intrigued by the Efe Raki display. Efe Raki is an unsweetened alcoholic drink made from dried or fresh grapes and flavored with anise seeds. It is similar in taste to Ouzo. Raki is also called Lions Milk due to the fact that the clear liquid turns milky when water is added. Served in typical Raki glasses, this is a drink that goes well with light appetizers or mixed in cocktails. I tasted the Efe Fresh Grapes Raki (Green bottle) The aroma of aniseed was quite strong and pleasantly intoxicating but was softer on the palate than ouzo or Pernod. Alcohol is 45% and the price range is $15 to $21 depending on which bottle you buy. Check out their website which has lots of interesting information about Raki history and tradition. http://www.eferaki.com Have a happy Wednesday!
Cheers! Penina ![]() A beautiful Harvest moon ushered in the weekend. And, autumn officially begins on September 22nd. Outdoor pools are closing and activities are shifting to hiking, biking, fall festivals, apple picking and finding pumpkin patches. ![]() Although I’m not ready to give up on “light and summery” meals yet, I am starting to mentally pair some hearty reds with more substantial fare. I hope to have lots of wine recommendations for you in the coming weeks. I’ll be back on Tuesday with a post on a Grand Tasting that I will be attending in NYC. ![]() I’m off to enjoy the last swim of the season. Happy Sunday!
Cheers! Penina Most people hear the word Moscato and immediately think “dessert wine” or “holiday wine”. I certainly broadened my palate and way of thinking when I partook in a Moscato D’Asti D.O.C.G. Master Class held this week by IEEM and the Consorzio for the Promotion of Asti at the Astor Center in NY. The class was led by Italian Wine expert Gregory Dal Piaz and Frederico Ceretto of Ceretto Winery. The participating wineries were Azienda Agricola Caudrina, Coppo Canelli, Marenco, Michele Chiarlo, Saracco and Ceretto. To begin with, Moscato is the name of a grape variety, a generic term. It is grown all over the world. Moscato d’Asti wines are exclusively made from Moscato Bianco grapes which are cultivated in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy in designated areas around the town of Asti. Moscato Bianco is considered one of the oldest grapes in the Piedmont region and can be traced back to Roman times. Grown in calcareous and sandy soil, the Moscato Bianco grapes produce an aromatic substance that signifies the onset of harvest time which takes place in early September. The grapes are hand harvested and put through manual presses. The resulting pulp and juice are then refrigerated at very low temperatures in stainless steel tanks so as not to allow fermentation. After a determined period of time, usually a week, the wine is then fermented in stainless steel tanks until alcohol content reaches the right level of sweetness. The wine is then chilled down to stop fermentation. The long and cool natural fermentation preserves the fruit aroma. Moscato d”Asti wines are light and semi-sparkling with varying degrees of sweetness. The alcohol content is low and by law is not allowed to go higher than 5.5%. The basic characteristics of the wine include lively acidity with aromas of flowers, white peaches, apricot, orange blossom and sage. They tend to be light and well balanced with fresh fruit and subtle effervescence on the palate. Moscato d’Asti pairs well with savory and sweet food as was demonstrated in the class. The wines from Saracco, Caudrina and Ceretto were paired with the cheese, meat and quiche. The sweet tarts were paired with wines from Coppo Canelli, Michele Chiarlo and Marenco. The contrast of flavors between wine and food actually complemented each other, showing the uniqueness and versatility of Moscato d’Asti. In addition to holiday meals, this is a perfect wine to serve with an array of appetizers, light fish, cold cuts and not too sweet desserts. Or, serve just as an aperitif! Next time you’re looking for a delicate, low alcohol and lively wine, reach for a bottle of Moscato d’Asti. In fact, pick up a few bottles and have a fun tasting with a few friends! Cheers!
Penina It was a “red” wine weekend. In addition to tasting some wonderful wines such as Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, I had a delicious Malbec on Sunday evening. It was one of those spur of the moment throw together meals. Fortunately, I had enough food on hand and a lot of imagination. Sautéed shrimp, veggies and tortellini made for a satisfying one dish meal. ![]() The 2013 Catena Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina was the perfect complement to dinner. Concentrated aromas of raisins, dark cherries, earth and a hint of cocoa grabbed our attention. The palate offered blackberries, plum, spice and floral notes. Soft tannins and a silky mouth-feel added to the richness of the wine. The lengthy finish with spicy notes was perfect. Alcohol: 14% I will definitely have to explore more of this winery’s selections. http://www.catenawines.com ![]() I have a few wine seminars and tastings to attend this week in NYC. I’m looking forward to learning about some interesting grapes and sharing it all with you! Have a great Monday!
Cheers! Penina September 11th I took this photo in 1979 from a ferry while giving my 9-year-old niece a tour of NYC. Today I'm mourning the loss of those who died on 9/11 and my niece Sidra who passed away 2 years ago.
Penina ![]() It’s interesting how a change in temperature can influence the palate. I awoke the other morning to crisp fall-like weather and my thoughts went immediately to making one of my hearty soups. I started compiling a list of ingredients to buy and perused my wine inventory for a bold red wine to serve with the soup. By the time I was ready to go food shopping, the humidity and heat had crept back in. The soup went on hold mode and the California Cabernet Sauvignon was gently slipped back into its resting place. With another heat wave on the horizon, I’ll revert back to “light” cooking and enjoying crisp, refreshing, chilled wines! Speaking of which… I popped open a bottle of 2013 Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford, Napa Valley. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc is “made entirely from dry-farmed and organically grown grapes.” Quote taken from Frogsleap.com The color was pale straw with vivid aromas of pear, citrus, grapefruit and a hint of floral. The palate offered a tasty infusion of citrus, pear and pineapple with hints of grapefruit and melon. A combination of lemon zest and vanilla lingered on the finish. This is a crisp and beautifully balanced wine that would complement a multitude of food in addition to drinking on it’s own, as I did. I’m off to embrace this warm but beautiful day! I’m thinking perhaps a white Burgundy might be nice for this evening!
Happy Thursday! Cheers! Penina ![]() The last of the strawberries are ripening on my plant, signifying the end of the season. It’s that time of year again when the annuals stop producing flowers and the leaves on the trees begin their magical color show. Autumn is waiting impatiently around the corner. The “grape” news is that it is grape harvest season in the Northern Hemisphere! Harvesting usually takes place between August and October. And in the Southern Hemisphere, the harvest season is usually between February and April. So, while I may bemoaning the fact that my swimming days are numbered, as I write this, grapes are being harvested somewhere. Which means our wine glasses will be filled in the not so distant future with the “fruits” of someone’s labor today. I’ll be back soon with some wine reviews!
Happy Tuesday! Cheers! Penina ![]() Nestled in the Province of Asti, in the Italian region of Piedmont, lies the town of Canelli which is home to over 10,000 inhabitants. Ancient villages, castles and bountiful vineyards perched on gentle slopes surround Canelli. The town is steeped in history and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on June 22nd, 2014. It is also considered the birthplace of the Italian sparkling wine, Asti. ![]() The municipality boasts many grape varieties such as Moscato, Barbera, Dolcetto, Cortese and Chardonnay. The Barbera grape is the third most planted red grape variety in Italy and the most famous appellation is the DOCG Barbera d’Asti. Almost half of all grape vine plantings in Piedmont are Barbera. The grape is a deep color and is known for producing low tannins and high levels of acid. ![]() Coppo Winery is located in Canelli and was founded by Piero Coppo in 1892. It has remained in the family for over 120 years and is now run by Piero’s four grandsons, Piero, Gianni, Paolo and Roberto. Cousins Max and Luigi who are fourth generation, have recently joined the team. Piero began building the winery in the late 18th century, creating small underground cellars to store wine. The cellars were expanded between the 1800s and 1900s and are know today as the Underground Cathedrals. Due to their historical value, these underground cellars have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. What began in the 1800s with Coppo making the first Italian spumante with secondary bottle fermentation and giving Canelli a place in wine history, led to Coppo’s production of red wines in the 20th century. Among their most notable red is Barbera d’Asti. In 1984, the Coppo family produced the first vintage of Barbera d’Asti Pomorosso, “making it the symbol of the winery and paradigm of a new history of Barbera”. Quote taken from Coppo website. I recently tasted three Barbera d’Asti releases from the Coppo Winery, courtesy of the importer, Folio Fine Wine Partners. 2014 Coppo L’Avvocata Barbera d’Asti DOCG 2012 Coppo Camp du Rouss Barbera d’Asti DOCG 2010 Coppo Pomorosso Barbera d’Asti DOCG ![]() The 2014 L’Avvocata is Coppo’s entry level Barbera d’Asti. It is made with 100% Barbera grapes and aged in stainless steel tanks. The color of the wine is dark cherry bordering on ruby. The aromas of cherry, plum and a bit of earth spill over into a subtle fusion of fresh berries, raspberries, spice, pepper and a hint of sour cherry on the palate. It is a medium to long finish. The wine is clean and nicely balanced with soft tannins. This is a great wine to pair with pasta, piquant red sauce, meaty fish and bold cheeses. Alcohol 13% Price: $15 (SRP) ![]() The 2012 Camp du Rouss Barbera d’Asti is made with 100% Barbera grapes and aged in French oak barrels. The color of the wine is deep ruby with cherry, red raspberry, tobacco and spice on the nose. On the palate this full-bodied wine leads with sour cherry seguing into hints of plum, pepper and oak with a long and crisp finish. This is another well balanced wine with soft tannins, making it a perfect wine to drink alone or pair with a hearty lasagna! Alcohol: 14.5% Price: $21.00 (SRP) ![]() The 2010 Pomorosso is Coppo’s signature Barbera d’Asti. Made with 100% Barbera grapes, it is aged for 14 months in French oak barrels. The color of the wine is dark ruby with purple hues. It has intense aromas of spice and cherry with hints of blueberry and oak that are layered and continue onto the palate. A blast of pepper and hints of tobacco linger on a long finish. Again, as with the previous wines reviewed, the Pomorosso is full-bodied, crisp and clean, with mild tannins. This wine will complement any hearty meal such as stews, meat entrees or one of my famous soups! However, I found it also paired well with the Manchego and Piave del Sapore cheeses! Alcohol: 14.5% Price: $50.00 (SRP Barbera d’Asti wines pair beautifully with a wide range of food. So, if you’re looking for full-bodied Italian red wine with lots of character and low tannins, put a little swirl in your glass and try Barbera d’Asti!
To learn more about Coppo’s history, wines and integrated farming and biodynamic techniques, please visit their website. http://www.coppo.it/en/ Cheers! Penina |
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