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Archive for category Whites

Wine of the Day – Meritage

Feb 8

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Wine of the Day for February 8, 2010

Meritage

The wine of the day today is a wine, and not simply a grape that is made into wine.

Style

Meritage wines are blends crafted from Bordeaux grape varieties considered the best of the vintage. Meritage, pronounced like heritage, is a combination of the words “merit” for the grape quality and “heritage” recognizing old world blending traditions. Meritage wines are growing in popularity, recognizing for its cellaring potential, yet enjoyable in youth.

Red Meritage

A Red Meritage is a blend of two or more of the red “noble” Bordeaux varieties — Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, St. Macaire, Gros Verdot and Carmenère. Red Meritage flavors and aromas will vary depending on the grapes used in the blend, but it is a highly rated wine, with favorable smooth texture and complex structure.

White Meritage

A White Meritage is a blend of two of three specific white “noble” varieties — Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon or Muscadelle du Bordelais. White Meritage flavors and aromas will lean toward honey and lemon grass, but can vary as well and contrary to many other whites that do not have aging potential, White Meritage wines can benefit from cellaring, adding dimension with age.

Not a Meritage

If the blend includes any other grape variety other than those identified, it is not a Meritage, and to qualify as a Meritage, no single grape variety can make up more than 90% of the blend.

Pairings

Pair your Red Meritage with equally robust and rich foods: prime rib, Stilton Cheese, and Farmhouse Cheddar. Pair your White Meritage with lighter fare such as fresh seafood and poultry.

I do love a good blend; bringing out the beautiful notes, flavors, characteristics of each of the wines. Hmmm, I’m thirsty!

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Wine of the Day – Malvasia

Jan 31

Posted by greatWineSource in Greece, Italy, Reds, Whites, Wine of the Day | Comments off

Wine of the Day for January 31, 2010

Malvasia

Wine of the day has missed a day. Oh no!! We went to my sister’s cabin in Rib Lake and there is absolutely no reception out there, and I just was too busy to get it up before we left. So, here it is a day late. Enjoy it over a glass of wine.

Malvasia grape

Origin

Malvasia is found in Italy, Spain and France, but its roots are found in Greece. Wine shops in the Venetian Republic were called Malvasie in honor of this very popular grape.

Style

Malvasia is primarily a white-wine grape but has the remarkable feature in that it produces both red and white wines, including a red version called Malvasia Nera. Each of these wines, however, is very different in their characteristics. Malvasia Nera is used primarily as a blending grape in Italy, valued for the dark color and aromas it adds. The best known whites are Malvasia del Lazio, Malvasia delle Lipari, Malvasia di Candia, Malvasia di Sardegna, and Malvasia Istriana.

Characteristics

The more popular white grapes produce golden, aromatic, flavorful wines with hints of apricots, musk, and almonds. Malvasia is not a high-yielding vine and is being replaced by better-producing grapes such as Trebbiano from Italy and Viura from Spain.

Pairing

Pair the reds with calamari, rich seafood stews and game. Pair the whites with flaky pastry desserts.

It’s a bit of work researching and trying to find some of these wines. Oh, it would be so fantastic if this was my full-time job. What fun it would be to drink wine and just write about it all day. Perhaps in my next life. :D

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Wine of the Day – Palomino

Jan 29

Posted by greatWineSource in Spain, Whites, Wine of the Day | Comments off

Wine of the Day for January 29, 2010

Palomino

This is the latest that I’ve posted a blog, BUT the day is not yet over, so it counts!! (smiles) I’ve had a busy couple of days with tastings back to back. Next week busier yet with 3 tastings back to back. Looking forward to all of them.

Palomino grapeToday’s grape is Palomino (isn’t that a horse?). Well, this topic is about the grape, not the horse.

Origin

Palomino origins date to Andalusia where it is rumored that King Alfonso X named the grape after one of his knights.

Style

This grape has long been the dominant grape in the production of Sherry, and is prone to oxidation in still wines, which is why you will be challenged to find a still wine produced with this grape today. It is also grown in Australia, South Africa and California and is used in those regions almost exclusively to make fortified wines.

Characteristics

Very dry as a still wine, is rich and sweet as a Sherry.

Pairing

Pairs with strong cheeses and broiled fish, or cold fruit salad. Sherry will be enjoyed after dinner.

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Wine of the Day – Parellada

Jan 28

Posted by greatWineSource in Spain, Whites, Wine of the Day | Comments off

Wine of the Day for January 28, 2010

Parellada

Origin

Grown in the Catalonia region of Spain, this white grape is one of three traditional varieties used to make Cava. This grape has limited growth potential and grows better in poor soil.

Parellada grape

Style

Parellada produces very small, tight-bunched grapes of good structure and aroma, however, because it is not a wine that will age well, it is more frequently used in blends, as mentioned above to produce Cava, but also blended with heartier grapes Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc to produce wines that will withstand a bit of cellaring.

Characteristics

As a still wine, you will notice an abundance of acidity and floral aromas. It is considered a main grape in the following DOs: Conca de Barberá, Costers del Segre, Penedés, and Tarragona. You can read the Cava blog for a bit more information on how it changes that sparkler.

Pairings

Pair the still wines with lighter fare such as salmon and light salads.

This wine is also known in Catalonia as Montonec meaning “grape of the mountain”.

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Wine of the Day – Verdejo

Jan 27

Posted by greatWineSource in Spain, Whites, Wine of the Day | Comments off

Wine of the Day for January 27, 2010

Verdejo

Verdejo grape

Origin

Verdejo is a native grape of Rueda in Northwest Spain and is debated to have originated in North Africa and spread to Rueda in the 11th century. This grape was relatively unknown for hundreds of years until it resurfaced and became more respected around 1970.

Style

This white grape has historically been used to make a dry Sherry wine, but in the 1980s, this wine was given the DO classification (Designation of Origin). Therefore, wines classified as Rueda must contain at least 50% Verdejo, and wines classified as Rueda Verdejo must contain at least 85% Verdejo.

Characteristics

Verdejo produces a wine that is soft, aromatic and full-bodied, reminiscent of Sauvignon Blanc. You will enjoy a crispness to this wine with hints of nuts and honey. It is considered very high quality and one of the best white varieties in Spain.

Pairing

This high quality and food friendly wine will pair well with grilled salmon, seared scallops, lemon chicken or a fresh summer salad.

Interesting little fact about this wine … it is generally harvested at night. This wine can oxidize easily and so harvesting at night means the grapes enter the cellar at a lower temperature and lower temperatures mean less oxidation or browning of the juice.

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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