Saturday, March 16, 2019

The World of Alternative White Wines - Saturday March 16th, 2019

The World of Alternative White Wines - Saturday March 16th, 2019
Hosted by Crissy & Steve

We learned about white wines other than Sauvignon Blancs, Chardonnays, and Pinot Grigio.
The wines were curated for the occasion.  TWITs brough $20/pp to cover the cost of the wines.



Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wine:  NV Borrasca Cava Brut ~ $9
12% alcohol, faint nose, dry, light, delicious.
appetizers: strawberries chips, cheese bites, salamis, crackers.

1) 2017 Boutari Santorini Assyrtiko, Greek ~ $20 @ Total Wine Brookhaven
13.5% alcohol, 100% Assyrtiko
very faint nose, not acidic, melon, thick viscosity, full bodied, very clean, great summer wine.
Food pairing:  Salmon and mango with cream cheese on a cracker.  DELICIOUS!

2) 2016 Sandgrube 13 Chremisa, Gruner Veltliner, Austria ~ $20 @ Total Wine
13.5% alcohol, Gruner Veltliner is the varietal
dry, high acid, very green, medium viscosity, 
Food Pairing:  Homemade Mac n Cheese, garnish with tomatoes or onions and bacon. YUM!

3) 2015 Le Salse Belisario, Verdicchio di Matelia, Italy ~ $20 @ Whole Foods
12.5% alcohol, Verdicchio is the varietal
viscous, green, fresh, almost like a French Chardonnay, moldy cheese like bleu, briny, some bitterness, minerality, woody notes, a nice harshness, a little more grippyness (?) more jagged on your tongue.
Food Pairing:  Pho with a dumpling - FanTASTIC!  I would never have thought to pair an Italian wine with Pho but it works, the basil in the pho really compliments the wine!

4) 2016 Marcel Servin Chablis, France ~$25 @ CostCo
12.5% alcohol, Chardonnay is the varietal (yeah yeah we know we said no Chardonnay but just taste it!)
white burgundy, dried fruit, honey, low acidity, creamy mouth feel.
Food Pairing:  Prosciutto wrapped asparagus

5) 2016 Susana Balbo Crios Torrontes, Argentina ~$15 @ Total Wine
13/5% alcohol, Torrontes is the varietal
smells like almost bad wet laundry but not bad yet, funky, muscadine, spicy, pithy, Hing spice ?
Food Pairing:  Jerk Shrimp. WOW!

6) 2016 Conundrum, California ~ $20
13.2% alcohol, white blend (winery secret)
citrus notes, dry then sweet finish,
Food Pairing:  Chick pea, Coconut, Basil salad.  delicious!!!

7) NV Skyriver Sweet Mead, Washington State ~ $18.99
10.5% alcohol
sweet honey wine, the sacred drink of the gods, descended from heaven then by bees, etc.
bubblegum nose, strawberry flavored lip gloss from Claire's.
Food Pairing:  Tortilla Espanol (potato tortilla with berbere spice - an Ethiopian spice)

Salmon and mango with cream cheese on a cracker

The Mac n Cheese with garnishes of Tomatoes or onions & bacon.  YUM!

Chick pea, Coconut, Basil salad 
and
Tortilla Espanol (potato tortilla with Berbere (an Ethiopian spice)


Prosciutto wrapped asparagus

Jerk Shrimp

All the yummy foods!