How Many Grapes Have You Tried?

 

Last week, a friend introduced us to the Wine Century Club. It's a club with free membership for those who have tasted 100 or more different varietals (types of grapes such as Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, etc). At the site you can print out an "application" and check off all the grapes you've had (on the honor system).  While it may come across as a one-upmanship type thing, it's more about encouraging people to try as many different types of grapes as possible, and to engage with others equally open-minded. We printed out the "application" and had a lot of fun discovering how many grapes we'd tried. Most of the grapes on the list may seem really obscure, but many you've probably had without realizing it. For example, Vinho Verde combines several native Portuguese grapes (Albariño (Alvarinho), Loureiro, and Trajadura).

 

An interesting point noted on the Wine Century Club website: "When you really get down to it, every wine grape variety is considered ordinary or typical in some part of the world, which makes trying 'uncommon' wine grape varieties all the more fun: you can be transported to a faraway place with just a sip!"

 

One of our goals when we initally built our inventory was to stock a lot of wines containing really unusual grapes. If you want to be in the club (or just learn more about different wine!), we can certainly help you figure out some grapes you may have already had, and get you hooked up with some new ones to cross off the list!

 

Here are some wines perfect for spring that will also amp up your total:

 

Whites 

 

Tenuta Rapitala (Grillo & Catarratto from Italy; $12) An authentically Sicilian wine that offers both tradition and new-world appeal. The Grillo and Catarratto grapes, vineyards pictured to the right, are the base for Sicily's most famous export, Marsala, but don't let that scare you. As this wine demonstrates, they can also make fresh and light dry table wine. Here an attractively round body is balanced by lively acidity, while notes of dusty apricot are countered by clean vanilla. Fans of floral, full wines like Viognier or Pinot Blanc will be in heaven.

 

Vinosia (Malvasia from Italy; $13) - Vinosia specialize in putting a modern spin on traditional Italian wines. Malvasia is a grape that dates back to Medeival times. The winemaking team, formerly of Feudi di San Gregorio, are based in Campania, but also produce a few wines from the region of Puglia (the "heel" of the boot). Light yellow with aromas of pear, apricot and dried honey. Medium-bodied with good concentration. Tart acidity and an off dry finish.

 

Pierre Boniface (Jacquere from Apremont in France; $16) - From the little-known Savoie area of the French Alps, this wine really captures that ideal of a clean mountain stream, fresh air, and wild flowers. A slight effervesence accents subtle pear flavors. Jacquere is the grape. Be sure not to drink it too cold, or you'll miss out on all the subtleties!

 

Wimmer Czerny (Roter Veltliner from Austria; $20) - Usually our job is to make wine sound irresistable. However, with this one, we are considering making it sound just ok. Why? Roter Veltliner is really rare: very little is grown in Austria, and even less is imported into the US. Of vague origin, roter ("red") veltliner is much more sumptuous, rich and floral than its Gruner counterpoint (to which it may or may not be related). Great acidity supports the creamy texture and sets off the luscious peach, pear and ginger flavors. This is such a beautifully composed and unique wine, we kind of want to keep it for ourselves. So forget all we just said: you don't want this wine.

Reds 

Grao Vasco (Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Alfrocheiro Preto, and Jean from Portugal; $8) - We've featured this one before, and it really doesn't get more "bang for your buck." Earthy but still robust in fruit, with lots of cherry and prune notes.

Alquezar (Moristel from Spain; $14) - This is the sort of wine we want to typify our store: unique, elegant, and affordable. The Somantano region is near the French border, at the feet of the Pyrennes. The grape, Moristel, is native to Spain and not often seen here in the States. The nose is perfumed with ripe berries and a dusty, gravelly scent. We were immediately smitten with the silky and elegant, yet still juicy, medium body. Earth and fruit coexist in complete harmony, with cleansing acidity. A wine intriguing enough for connoisseurs and approachable enough for beginners.

Re Manfredi (Aglianico from Italy; $32) - While your friends are battling it out for rare (and often incredibly expensive) Barolo and Brunello, you might consider checking out Aglianico del Vulture. The grape is the small, tannic Aglianico, and it comes from the high slopes of Mt Vulture in the isolated region of Basilicata, near the "arch" of the boot. Like the more famous Nebbiolo and Sangiovese grapes, Aglianico combines power with beauty. Assertively aromatic, with tons of black fruit and blanketed in tannin that will preserve it for years. Complex, layered wine that is a complete steal.

Other Unusual Grapes in stock (red & white): prieto picudo, mencia, grechetto, zweigelt, blaufrankisch, muller thurgau, picolit, hondarribi zuri, beltza, xarel-lo, refosco, and more!

 

Memorial Day Picnic Libations

 

 

Pools open, picnics are had . . . Memorial Day is the beginning of summer. We will be open regular hours and have some excellent beverages to accompany your outdoor relaxation activities.

 

Vega Sindoa (Viura / Chardonnay) - Navarra, Spain - $10

This is like finding a vintage Chanel suit at the Goodwill. All the aromatic loveliness, sumptuous mouthfeel and tropical fruit of a delicate Viognier or a new-world white Rhone style blend, but it costs half as much. And from an innovative female winemaker (Concha Vecino) at a state of the art winery located in Northern Spain, near the Pyrennes. Viura is also known as Macabeo. One of the prettiest wines we've tasted recently, and one of the best values too.

 

 

Fuente del Conde (Rose of Tempranillo) - Cigales, Spain - $12

The region of Cigales, in the larger central-Spain area of Castile & Leon, has always been known for Roses and aromatic whites. Since gaining official regional status in the early 1990s, they have been modernizing the style of their wines, and that’s reflected in this fruit-driven rose.  While it is definitely a dry wine, there is a lot of jammy strawberry and cherry characteristics. Hints of the old-world style still make a cameo: there is a tangy refreshingness as well as a hint of savoriness and minerality on the finish.  Quite well-rounded and easy to drink, and very friendly to the pocketbook.

 

 

Castano Monastrell (Mourvedre) - Yecla, Spain - was $12; SALE $10

In his review of this wine, Josh Raynolds (who writes for Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar) used the word "sexy" multiple times. We agree, but let's distinguish what type of sexiness: it's the old school kind. This wine is like Elizabeth Taylor: an elegant sexpot, bursting with spicy white pepper and flashy dark berries. It's a natural choice to pair with smokey grilled foods. 

 

 

 

Ligurian Wine Dinner

 

Our next wine dinner at City House will be on Monday, June 2. The cuisine will focus on the region of Liguria. The little crescent moon-shaped coastal region touches France to the west, sits bellow the regions of Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna, and merges into Tuscany in the east.

 

Very little wine is grown in the region, and what small amounts make it out are often quite expensive and hard to get. So we will be featuring wines from the surrounding areas, including Piedmont and the island of Sardinia, which we are just as excited about! Vermentino, Sangiovese, Dolcetto . . . we really can't wait for this one.

 

Menu coming soon; however you may make reservations now, as these events usually fill up fast!

 

Ligurian Wine Dinner

City House Restaurant

Monday, June 2

6:30

$69

 

Call (615) 736-5838 for reservations

 

Beers on Sale

 

 

White Hawk IPA (was $10; SALE $8)

Mendecino Brewing Co. blends American West Coast Cascade Hops with a very generous dose of English Fuggle Hops for a very aromatic character, as well as some authentic English flavors. Similar to Sierra Nevada but more bold.

 

Affligem Belgian Ale (was $11; SALE $9.5)

It's rare to see a Belgian Ale this cheap and this good! Creamy and lively carbonation action blends with a dry and quenching edge. Lots of  complexity ranging from pepper to some bready notes and a honey-like sweetness that provides great balance in the dry, lingering finish. Delicious. For full flavor effect let it warm up a couple degrees after pouring.