Dinner Pairing - Zeppoli's (Italy)

A picture of the outside of Zeppoli's Italian Restaurant.

On April 1, 2012, I went with my friends Katelyn, Katy, and Matt to Zeppoli's for the wine dinner pairing.  We had attended one of these before so we knew to get there early to get our own table.  It was a full house that night so I'm glad that we did.  The night went just as it did the first time we participated, and we had a great time.

My friend Katy and I at the dinner waiting for our wine.

The dinner was buffet style with a plethora of different Italian dishes.  The food included garlic bread, cheese and crackers, chicken salad with balsamic dressing, a mediterranean pasta with feta cheese, pasta with meat sauce, and small pizza slices.  There was no dessert this time.  

A small sample of the food we ate at the dinner.

The vibe was very casual.  We all sat around and began eating our food while the guide of the tasting began describing the wines.  He was a great leader throughout the meal.  He would describe each wine, what we should smell and what we should taste, as well as what the best thing would be to pair it with.  It was especially helpful when he said what food on our plates we should eat with that particular wine.  It really enhanced the experience because we were able to correctly pair the wines and understand what a really good food pairing can do for the flavor of a wine.  Something that was a little bit different was that instead of giving us all of the information about each wine upfront, he left pairs of them a mystery to us and we had to guess which one was more expensive, which had more alcohol, and what time of grape we thought they were.  This made it interactive and fun.

All nine Italian wines we tasted at the dinner.

The ones we tasted that night were all awesome.  Here is my review of the nine Italian wines we tasted.

Fossi Bianco White Table Wine: $6.99, 11.5% alcohol; This wine was very subtle.  It had pear and apple flavors on the nose and the taste as well.  I tasted this with the mediterranean pasta which was the perfect pairing.  They were both very light and accompanied each other well.  The aftertaste of this wine dropped off quickly but it was delicious overall.  

La Fiera 2010 Pinot Grigio Veneto: $7.99, 12% alcohol; This wine was a little bit bitter on the nose, the taste, and the aftertaste.  However, it was smooth, refreshing, and it had hints of apple and pair.  

Nals Margried 2010 Pinot Grigio Alto Adige: $14.00, 14% alcohol; This had a very strong citrusy nose and had a stronger flavor than the first.  It was slightly heavier bodied than the Fossi Bianco however it was still very light and refreshing.  I tasted this with the mediterranean pasta as well. 

Lodali 2011 Moscato D'Asti: $12.99, 5.5% alcohol; This wine was very sweet and bubbly.  The bubbles made it more refreshing which was good because it helped cut the sweetness a little bit.  I would have liked to have tasted this wine at the end of my meal with dessert instead of in the middle of the meal.  However, I did enjoy this Moscato because it had hints of apples and peach and was deliciously sweet.

Luca Primativo del Salento Puglia: $8.99, 13% alcohol; This wine was very hot on the nose and I didn't like how it smelled.  However, I really liked the way that it tasted.  It had big fruit flavors but was also spicy, which created the perfect balance.  I tasted this with the pasta with meat sauce and after doing so, the fruit flavors became even more prominent.  

SUD 2010 Primativo Puglia: $11.99, 13.5 alcohol; This wine had big cherry flavors and unlike the one right before this, I loved the way it smelled as well as how it tasted.  It was fruity, smooth, and full-bodied.  I tasted it with the pasta with meat sauce.

Morli Neri 2009 Chianti DOCG: $9.99, 12.5 alcohol; This wine was slightly spicy and I could detect blackberry.  It was a medium-bodied wine, smooth, and slightly acidic.  It was a very good wine and I really enjoyed it.

Bibi Graetz 2010 Casamata Toscana: $12.99, 12% alcohol; This wine was extremely spicy on the nose and the taste.  It was not my favorite of the night, however the aftertaste did linger for a long time which was nice.  I tasted it with the pasta with red sauce which was the perfect pairing and it cut down some of the spiciness.

Locali 2009 Nebbiolo D'Alba Sant Ambrogrio: $17.99, 13.5% alcohol; This wine was by far my favorite of the night!  At first, I didn't really like the nose of the wine but upon tasting it, I totally changed my mind.  It was somewhat sweet when it first hit my mouth and then that sweetness melted away and became slightly spicy. It was complex and satisfying.  Definitely the best of the night.

Winery Visit- Grayhaven Winery

      On March 3rd, a couple of friends and I went to Grayhaven Winery in Gum Spring, VA near Richmond on our way to the Outer Banks for spring break.  This winery was different than any other we had been to before.  When we pulled into it, we realized that it was not a very upscale or done-up winery.  In fact, when we arrived, there was only a small sign with the winery’s name at the end of a gravel driveway.  Along the drive way were old children’s toys and a rusty playground.  Needless to say, it was very eccentric. 

The small sign at the entrance of the winery.

     When we walked into the winery building itself, our tasting guide, Bunni, cheerfully greeted us.  The feel of the place was relaxed and enjoyable.  Bunni explained to us that this winery opened in 1978, held the 6th oldest root stalk in Virginia, and that during a drought a few years ago, when many wineries around the country lost their vines, Grayhaven was able to send them some of their own.  She was excited about the winery and went on and on about how much she loves her job. The winery, though small looking, actually produces 4,000 cases a year, over 33 types of wine a year, and grows 26 varietals of grapes- more than any in Virginia.  She explained to us that most of their wines are unfiltered so there are sediments but that those add to the flavors and “chew” factor.  They only oak 4 or 5 of their 26 varietals and they do this in an unusual way; instead of using oak barrels, they actually use oak chips that they mix with the wines. 

The small, cozy tasting room at Grayhaven Winery.

       Unfortunately, this winery did not offer a guided tour.  For the tasting, we sampled 5 different wines made at the winery.  Here is my review of the wines:

Moonlight white Pinot Gris- This wine is unfiltered and lightly oaked.  I must say that I did not enjoy this wine at all.  It was very light and dry, to be honest it smelled like wet dog which masked all other scents.  Our tour guide really likes this one though, so to each his own! ($16.00)

Eventide Sangiose Rose-  I liked this wine.  It is very versatile according to Bunni and it can go with bold flavors as well as delicate foods.  It was fruity with a cherry nose and had a flavor that was interestingly buttery.  It goes well with chocolate ($20.00).

Trekker Marechal Foch 2011/ Cabernet franc 2009 blend-  This wine is nicknamed the "angry Frenchman" because it is a hard grape to grow.  The nickname comes from General Marshall, a general during the French Revolution. This had blackberry on the nose, was very dark in color but light bodied and very drinkable.  Unfortunately, flavor falls right off after swallowing ($24.00).

Sojourn Marechal Foch/Petit Verdot 2012- In this wine, the Petit Verdot softens the flavor which makes it pleasant on the nose and somewhat spicy.  It tastes somewhat spicy as well but fruity with a tart/citrus component as well.  Overall, it had a very complex flavor, was medium bodied, and woodsy at the finish rather than citrusy.  It can go with meat and even barbecue ($26.00).

Rendezvous- This wine is 100% Petit Verdot and comes from both 2010 and 2011vintage grapes.  The 2010 grapes bring a fruity component and the 2011 brings a smokey and spicy, less fruity component. It is between a medium and full bodied wine and smells milk chocolatey.  The smell is sweet but it  doesn't necessarily taste sweet; it was very well-balanced.

The collection of wines that we tasted at Grayhaven Winery.

We had a really good time at Grayhaven Winery that day.  Despite how different the winery was from any we had visited before, it was fun and enjoyable!

Me and my friends standing outside of the Grayhaven Winery.

Winery Tasting- James River Cellars

        On March 3rd, I went with my friends Matt, Katy, and Katelyn on a trip to James River Cellars Winery in Glen Allen, Virginia right near Richmond.  We were on our way to the Outer Banks for spring break and decided to stop by a couple of wineries in Richmond along the way.  On the outside, this winery was different than any I had seen before.  First off, it was right off of a big road so it wasn't very secluded and was right in the middle of a city.  The grape vines were the first thing we saw when we pulled into the parking lot and they were very small.  However, upon walking up to the winery building, which was cute, yellow, and cottage-like, the atmosphere took on a very relaxing and elegant feel.

The front yard of this small winery off of a main road in Richmond, VA. To the left is the building where all of the wines are made.

      Unfortunately, because the winery is very small, they do not offer guided tours.  However, our guide for the tasting, Keith, was very informative about the grapes that they grow and the methods that the winery uses for making their wines.  He was an older gentleman who was very entertaining and kept us laughing throughout the tasting.  Keith was able to really connect with us despite our age differences and he told stories about going to football games when he was younger and stories about taking “jagerbombs” with his fishing buddies.  On a more serious note, he explained to us that they grow 11 grape varieties at the winery; 5 whites and 6 reds.  He said that they do not over filter any of the red wines so most of them have some sediment at the bottom.  They do this in order to keep all of the flavors and the authenticity of the wine in tact.  80% of the grapes used to make the James River Cellars’ wines are grown by the winery itself.  However, most of the grapes are actually grown in Montpelier, VA at a vineyard they own about an hour away from Richmond.  This explains why the grape vines at the location we visited were so small.  

Me and my friends in front of the grape vines with the wines we bought after the tasting!

    My favorite part of our visit to James River Cellars was the wine tasting.  We tasted 13 wines which was awesome and the best part was I liked almost every single one.  We started off tasting dry, white wines and made our way to reds and then very sweet wines. 

This is a picture of my friends in the tasting room while they get ready to taste the wines.

Here is my review of the wines that we tasted:

2010 Chardonnay- This wine was aged in stainless steel so it was not oaky at all which I appreciated.  It was crisp with fruity flavors like green apple and pear.  It was not sweet and our guide suggested pairing it with a jambalaya ($12.00).

2009 Gewiirztraminer- This wine had 0.5% sugar content and was extremely floral, both on the nose and to the taste.  I could specifically detect roses on the nose.  It was a little bit too floral for me ($15.00)

2010 Chardonel- This is a Gold Medal Winner! The Chardonel grape is a hybrid between Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, which created a sweet but refreshing wine.  The nose was very subtle but I could detect some spice and some fruitiness as well ($14.00).

2010 Vidal- This is a Gold Medal Winner! This wine was very citrusy with a strong grapefruit flavor.  However, there was a hint of sweetness, which balanced out the acidity and made this wine very enjoyable.  Our guide suggested drinking this with breakfast or a curry chicken salad ($17.00).

2010 Rad Red- This is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes.  It has no sugar at all and is 12% alcohol.  On the nose I detected blackberry and a somewhat spicy component as well.  This was one of my favorites ($15.00).

2008 Cabernet Franc- Overall, this wine didn’t wow me.  It was very subtle on the nose as well as the taste.  It was somewhat spicy and not very full-bodied.  I could detect pepper and some acidity ($16.00).

2008 Merlot- This wine was very full-bodied and complex.  It was somewhat spicy but smooth and had big berry aromas and tastes such as blackberry and cherry.  I found this to be quite enjoyable ($18.00).

2008 Hanover- This is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Chancellor grape varieties.  It was somewhat sweet with black currant and cherry flavors.  It was very enjoyable ($14.00).  (At this point, the rest of the wines we tasted became sweeter and sweeter).

2011 Chambourcin- This wine was my favorite of all the 13 wines that we tasted.  We did something during the tasting that I’ve never done before which our guide called the “Sip, Chip, Sip.”  What we did was took a sip of the wine, then ate some semi-sweet chocolate chips, and then took another sip.  It was delicious.  The wine was semi-sweet, medium-bodied, and had hints of blackberry.  The chocolate chips enhanced the flavor of the wine.  After the Sip, Chip, Sip our guide warmed up the wine and we drank it hot.  This actually made the wine less sweet and was good this way as well.  At the winery, they have nicknamed this wine “the baby-maker” ($15.00).

2008 Colonial Red- This wine is made with 100% Merlot grapes and was infused with cinnamon.  I’ve never had anything like it.  It tasted somewhat like apple pie and was like “Christmas in a bottle.”  It was sweet but not overwhelmingly so ($10.00).

2008 Montpelier Blush- This wine is 3-5% sugar and was very sweet.  It is a blend of Chardonnay, Chardonel, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc.  There was a hint of strawberries and this is served on Mother’s Day at the winery with strawberry shortcake.  This was a little bit too sweet for me ($12.00).

2010 Hanover White- This wine is a combination of iced Chardonnay, Chardonel, and Moscato and is 5% sugar.  It was very sweet and dessert-like.  I could detect pear in this wine. This was very sweet but was refreshing as well ($15.00).

2010 Divino- This one is a “true dessert wine.”  The grapes are frozen in an 18-wheeler truck and turned into raisins.  It is 30-35% sugar so needless to say it was extremely sweet and our guide called it a “diabetic coma in a bottle.”  It had high alcohol content and was very floral ($20.00).

Here is a picture of the collection of wines we tasted.

Overall, my experience at James River Cellars was very enjoyable and a lot of fun.  I really liked the vibe of the place and the people were really nice.  The tasting was only $5 and for college students on a budget, this was a deal.  We each bought a different bottle of wine and loved tasting each of them again later that night!

Tasting- Santola Vinho Verde

Name: Santola Vinho Verde

Variety: Vinho Verde

Region: Mealhada

Country: Portugal

Year: Non-Vintage

Price: $7.95

Critic Review:  Soft and creamy, although with just the right Vinho Verde bite, this is a crisp and clean wine, boasting light pear and pink grapefruit flavors.  Off dry and very fresh.

My Review: This wine was very refreshing, somewhat sweet but not overwhelmingly. It's very drinkable while somewhat tart and light. A very good balance between sweet and sour. I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting- Protocolo Blanc

Name: Protocolo Blanc

Variety: White Wine Blend

Country: Spain

Year: 2009

Price: $6.95

Critic Review:  Greenish gold.  Subtle aromas of mint, lemon and orange, with a hint of honeysuckle.  Dry, understated and focused, offering clean citrus and melon flavors and slow-building sweetness.  Finishes dry and brisk, with an echo of lemon.  As usual, this is an outstanding value.

My Review: Somewhat dry but still enjoyable. It was acidic which made it refreshing. It burned a little bit on the throat which was not pleasant but I liked it overall.  I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting- Resonata Nero D'Avola

Name: Resonata Nero D'Avola

Variety: Nero D'Avola

Region: Sicily

Country: Italy

Year: 2010

Price: $6.95

Critic Review:  Dense ruby red with violet reflections.  Lush and ripe bouquet full of mulberries, blackberries and spice.  Harmonious and well balanced with good berry fruit in a spicy background.

My Review: This one smelled very strongly of blackberry and after smelling it I was very excited to taste it. The taste did not disappoint it was very good.  It was complex and interesting, I really enjoyed it.  I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting- Don Ramon Tinto

Name:Don Ramon

Variety: 27% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo

Country: Spain

Year: Non-Vintage

Price: $7.95

Critic Review: 75% Grenache, 25% Tempranillo.  Aged 3 months in American Oak casks.  Ruby red in color, with creamy aromas of earth and cherry.  Flavor turns toward deeper and darker black cherry and raspberry on a medium framework.  A subtle earthiness underneath the bright fruit adds some depth and complexity.

My Review: This one was a little bit spicy with berry fruit on the nose. The flavor overall was pretty subtle and not overwhelming. I was not very pleased with this one. I did not have this wine with food.