Bubble Party

So many people like bubbles, and not just the ones you blew out of a wand covered with soapy water in your backyard. The bubbles in this case are the ones that are held captive by a corked bottle, waiting to be unleashed by a POP, destined to float across your tongue like a thousand miniature rubber ducks having a dance party in your mouth instead of on the dash of your friends Jeep. The experience brings even the non-wine drinker back again and again.Wine is so special because it has both taste (flavors) and feel. Sparkling wine (the likes of Cava, Prosecco, and Champagne) take the feel part to a whole other level. It gives everyone a mouth full of feel which is why SO many non-wine drinkers like it. Yet, once you start diving a little deeper and begin to ask: “Could you taste anything underneath all of those bubbles?”, that you begin to sort through the morass of, what I call, “backyard bubbles.”“Backyard bubbles” (BBs from here on) are sparkling wines with no taste, no flavor, there just to fill one’s palate with CO2 fluff. BBs can be very cheap or decidedly not so, and the only good use of BBs are as a mixer, like a Mimosa. So how do you avoid buying or drinking BBs? Simple. Don’t buy a Sparkling Wine that you haven’t tried.Well that might not be that simple!  If you don’t have a chance to try it, then as a minimum talk to someone who can actually guide you to a sparkling wine that has some complexity of flavor and isn’t just all bubbles. Here are a few pointers on what to ask that will help prevent you from going home with BBs:  can you tell me about the bubbles (Are the bubbles large and fill the mouth or are they more subtle and elegant)? How is the finish (does it have one)? What could I expect to taste?If the person who is helping you has a hard time answering your questions beware.  Also beware if the answer to your questions are all in prices. Example: “This one is great for that at $45.”  My current favorite sparkling wine can be had for around $40, has an excellent mouth feel with a lot of elegant bubbles, and has a great compliment of complex flavors.Multiple wine shops around town this past week did sparkling wine tastings. Most were BBs, and if that is all you are after, then rock on.  Out of all of them one stood out as being able to do something more. Tapiz Sparkling Rosé made from Malbec out of Mendoza had a good combination of bubbles and deep flavor. It was also the Crowd Favorite.  If you recognize this sparkling wine it is because it was featured as the Crowd Favorite at an Aragon Tasting this past March, showing that is can still hold its own.So the next time you dump a bubble bath in your mouth try to see if you can actually taste anything while that party is going on across your tongue.  If not then have a glass of something else.

Wine at lunch?

I love having a glass of wine at lunch.  I have touched on this topic before, but today with a new angle; politeness.  Just this morning I caught part of a discussion about politeness in our current society.  Are we more or less polite than we used to be was the basic question. The consensus seemed to be that we are less polite, mainly to due to the electronic device that is now semi-permanently attached at the end of our arms. Well, I have a solution; Wine!Go to any of our local wine tastings and you are going to find people talking, to each other! And they are enjoying themselves! A cell phone comes out every now and then, but a wine glass has temporarily surmounted its place. It is such a novel and amazing concept, talking to one another, that I want to foster it.Most wine tastings are in the evening, causing many to be stuck in this modern, non-polite world for hours on end. Therefore an intervention is needed, right in the middle of the day. The solution:Lunch!Many, due to occupation, are not allowed to consume alcohol while on the clock. I feel you, I spent 12 years in that kind of hell, and I’m sorry. For everyone else who can [have Wine] at lunch then this is for you. There are only two rules to Lunch Wine.First rule: Don’t let someone in your lunch group order a beer. If you are allowed to drink during your work day then don’t have a beer. This is one of the few times when the perceived “sophistication” of wine is to your benefit. Having a beer in the middle of the day gives the impression of laziness and poor decision making. Wine does not come with that baggage. Don’t believe me. Try your own experiment and ask the folks around your work place how they feel if they hear a co-worker had a beer at lunch. Then ask the same if they had a single glass of wine.Second rule: Do not have more than one glass. The stigma that surrounds alcohol at lunch roots itself in the possibility of you getting drunk or at the minimum not performing upon your return to the office. One glass of wine will not make you “sloppy.” If it does then don’t drink. By all means have a coffee and don’t mess it up for the rest of us.Having a glass of wine at lunch does many good things. It will help keep you off of your phone, thus you will be more social and attentive to your lunch guests, a very polite gesture indeed. Also people drinking wine look better than those not, and it has been proven that red wine aides in digestion. Therefore the result of you having wine at lunch is that you will physically feel better and come off as more positive and more polite.My favorite place to have a glass of wine at lunch in Pensacola is Carmen’s Lunch Bar & Tapas. The last time that I was there I was fortunate enough to try a wine that was soon to be but not yet on the menu; Cabriola by Borsao 2019 Spanish red blend. It paired perfectly with my lunch choice, and my lunch guest, who had the same wine, was impressed with my recommendation. We spoke about the business at hand and I only interrupted the occasion once with my cell phone to take the picture for this post. So, if you can, do us all a favor and have a glass of wine at lunch.  You just might make the world a better, slightly more polite, place.

“What is the best Wine Shop…?”

“What is the best Wine Shop around here?” I suppose that was a fair question at the end of a 30+ person private wine event that I had the privilege of getting to co-host, some of attendees being new to our area. I took a moment to answer with: “There are a couple,” then expanded on my answer.

It would be too easy to say that the best shop is “X”. Often to correctly answer a question you must ask a question, so after giving my initial answer I asked: “How do you like to buy wine?” After getting his response I then gave him a brief run down of where I thought he would get the best bottle with the best experience. The last part of that sentence is the key! But before diving in and answering what makes a good wine shop we must define what a wine shop is.

That is actually harder than it sounds. One possible definition is a shop whose merchandise is comprised of 51% or more of wine. Yet that can take several locations out of consideration that could deserve a look. For me, a better way to define a wine shop is based on expertise and experience. Some of the best places can have a small, but unique, wine selection with great knowledge on that selection. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love a big selection, but no one knows everything about every wine. I love being surprised by a recommended wine that turned out to be fantastic, a wine that I would have otherwise not picked on my own. That level of knowledge and expertise often leads to a great experience, both in buying and consuming. Finding a store with huge selection of wine that also has a staff (or just a single staffer) with a vast level of knowledge is very, very rare.

A great example of being suprised by a wine that was a recommendation, one that I would not have bought on my own was Cantine Coppi Core Rosato Negroamaro from Salento, in Puglia Italy that was at Aragon Wine Market. Aragon is small but has a very good selection and a very knowledgeable staff, making my list for one of our area's best wine shops. The Negroamaro was a Rose but very unique with a complexity of flavor and feel that you don't get out of almost every other Rosé, making it a Wine of Note!

So I go back to my question of “How do you like to buy wine?” Do you enjoy going into a big box store and finding your own treasure bottle or do you like a more intimate venue with a staff that can point out something great?  We are blessed to have several good wine shops locally, but we also have a few that I would NOT recommend.  Sorry, I am not going to go over them here.  Ask me at the next wine event if you are curious on my opinion. 

October’s Vino Magnifico 2023

My schedule can be very erratic at times, causing me to be on the road, away from wine tastings. This past week I was fortunate enough to make V Paul’s once-a-month Vino Magnifico wine tasting. Vino Magnifico is different from the rest of our regularly scheduled tastings. For those who haven’t been V Paul’s requires a reservation. You arrive and sit down, either with friends or other adventurous wine tasters. Then wine is brought to you while you get brief description of what you are having. Basically the opposite of the other tastings.  There are pros and cons to the different wine tasting styles, which is a later topic.As every wine event I attend becomes a de-facto social experiment, Vino Magnifico is a fruitful affair! I often get to speak to wine tasters who don’t attend any of the other tastings, giving both sides a chance to share perspectives. I really enjoy watching others try new wine and then watching, and sometimes hearing their reaction. I then like to ask them why they liked, or didn’t like, a certain wine and I am always fascinated by their answers.Those answers are often all over the place as certain people like to try and sound more sophisticated than they really are instead of just being genuine and honest. The current result of my on going social wine tasting experiment is that you can 100% tell, on one hand, who is being genuine, and on the other, who wants to cover their insecurities with sophisticated nonsense.Well, at least everyone could agree on what was tonight’s Crowd Favorite: Villa Antinori Toscana Bianco 2021. This is a classic Porch Pounder, as certain people call it. It was refreshing with just the right amount of acid blended with citrus fruit notes and some back ground minerality. I was asked if it was too late in the season to buy this kind of wine since summer seems to finally be over. My response: “There is no season where you cannot buy any wine that you enjoy!”

Inadvertent Wine Snob

Can drinking more wine turn you into a Wine Snob? It can, if you are not careful. One of the best attributes of our local wine tastings is the delightful absence of the typical Wine Snob (WS). We at GCW have defined the typical WS before. Typical WSs are not welcoming, often critical of others’ comments, and TELL YOU what you should be drinking.Yet there is natural phenomenon that can occur as a wine drinker progresses from beginner, to novice, to, hopefully, a true wine enthusiast. That phenomenon is a maturing/discerning palate. It is just like growing up. Most kids will not eat a dill pickle, yet most adults will. As we drink more wine, and different wines from across the periodic wine table, our palate can develop and it CAN change. A wine that used to be one of your favorites earlier on can become un-drinkable later in your wine journey, and that is OKAY!What is not okay is turning your nose, or glass, up against those wines, and especially to those who still enjoy them! Your wine journey is unique, and you should take pride in developing a discerning palate. Just because someone still likes that Merlot (I still love a good Merlot) doesn’t mean you are any more of a wine lover than they are.The same is true from the other view point, from the beginner’s view. Just because someone takes a sip of a wine and dumps it out, or passes it up, does not automatically make them a WS. It is the attitude. If that person dumps it out saying; “Well this is just an $18 bottle of wine,” then they might be a WS. Yet if that same person dumping the wine instead says “This just isn’t for me,” then respect that, even if their reason internally is the fact that the wine is $18 a bottle. (Just kidding, don’t mis-judge a bottle because it was only $18!)As you progress into your wine journey and find yourself becoming very discerning, increasingly liking more unique and often more expensive wine, invite others in and share your experience in a positive way. Not in a way that says “Oh look what I’m drinking.” Don’t begrudge other wine lovers for loving other things. And NEVER tell someone what they should, or shouldn’t, like!I just did make it back home this week in time to catch parts of Friday’s wine tastings; Seville’s and the mystery wines at Bottle Shop on Baylen. One of the best methods that I use to make sure that I keep myself from inadvertently straying into the tendencies of a WS is going to as many wine tastings as possible. This keeps me “wine grounded.” Two easy drinking reds were the Crowd Favorites at Seville; Klinker Brick’s Old Vine Zinfandel from Lodi California and Hedges CMS blend (71% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Syrah) from Washington. The mystery wines at the Bottle Shop were unique and very good! So go out to the tastings, share in your experience, taste everything, and stay grounded to being a true wine enthusiast. Cheers to that!

East Hill Bottle Shop 20 Sept 2023

The last day of official Summer. You wouldn’t really know it if you weren’t paying attention to the calendar with our days still touching 90F. But there are little glimpses of change if you know where to look. For many wine drinkers the start of Autumn and cooler temperatures mean it’s time to start drinking “big” red wines again.I understand the concept: mainly drink white wines or lighter bodied reds during the hot months, claiming “big” reds aren’t refreshing. Yet understanding the concept and agreeing with it are two different things. I grew up drinking very “big” reds while having lunch during the peak of the hot Portuguese and French summers. For more conventional wine drinkers I just stated two unfathomable actions! Drinking full bodied reds, at lunch, in the heat!! Woah!First of all, more people should have a glass of wine at lunch! Many “professionals” see this as a total faux pas. I am not saying get drunk, or even having a second glass, but one glass of wine at lunch, served at the CORRECT temperature, that compliments the food is a wonderful experience. I argue that, for some, it should be mandatory! I guarantee that you know at least one person who fits that bill.Well this week’s Crowd Favorite at the East Hill Bottle Shop is a perfect example of a good “big” red wine to either restart your autumnal enjoyment or pair with that forbidden lunch. Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône, a 100% Syrah from southern France, was bold with a nose of violets, greeting the palate with blackberries, black plum, a dash of baking spice, some juniper, and finishing with relatively smooth earthy tones. And it was inexpensive.As we finally crawl out of Summer I find it refreshing that more of my fellow wine drinkers are thinking about their first sips of those “big” reds in months. I liken it to a bear just out of its dean, sniffing the air, trying to determine which direction its first meal will be found. It's palpitations audible to those near by. And maybe, just maybe, try a single glass of wine with lunch. It is as enjoyable as it sounds!

V Paul’s September Vino Magnifico

I have gone to several wine tastings in the Pensacola area but I had never gone to the one tasting that everyone has recommended to me: V Paul's second Tuesday tasting. With my usual reviews I tend to go into the wine itself some more but this is my complete reaction to my first V Paul's tasting. I went into this tasting with some idea of what it would be like. I understood that this was a sit down tasting and the same crowd tends to meet every month. I began the tasting by walking into the restaurant and was greeted warmly by the host. I noticed that this was a more mature crowd than what I was used to seeing at other tastings. Everyone was stylishly dressed and many had perched at the bar for a drink. I decided to follow the lead of many of the patrons and order myself an Aperol Spritz on this hot day.I had attended this tasting alone, which admittedly made me feel slightly nervous. It is much easier to attend events when you can experience it with a familiar person. I must have been the only person at the tasting who was not meeting someone or attended the tasting by themselves. I decided anyway to embrace the new environment and new crowd of people. I ran into someone I had met at a local tasting who had invited me to the V Paul's tasting. I made no promises since the month prior I had failed to secure my reservation. It was this month of September that I was lucky enough to secure a reservation for myself through V Paul's website. It was so delightful meeting up with this person who then subsequently introduced me to Paul himself. He is the ultimate host, kind and inviting, and found me a seat among many reserved tables. I had joined a table of several ladies who make this their monthly meeting. Immediately I was embraced as a newcomer and welcomed into the mix as we began tasting the wine. I could not have gotten luckier to have been sitting among such kind and fun women!I typically do not attend many sit-down tastings but this was unique. With complementary pesto pasta served along with the wine to order right off the menu during the tasting. I ordered the bruschetta to accompany the wine, which included the following:Charles de fere Rose, Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling, Whole Cluster Pinot Noir, Catina Valle Tritana Montepluciano d'Abruzzo, and the Oberon Merlot.These were a selection of industry standards along with a couple au courant standouts. Typically I do not favor pinot noirs even though I can tolerate them, but the Whole Cluster Pinot Noir was my favorite of the tasting. It had deep cherry and slight oaky taste that is usually more subdued in some pinot noirs I have tried in the past. It was perfectly medium-bodied and I thought that it was pleasant. It was a wine that I would revisit again. The other wines did not seem as remarkable although the other patrons did seem to enjoy them. Compared to other wine tastings, these wines offered were not entirely as unique or standout.Overall, the atmosphere was very inviting. The host, Paul, was very welcoming and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves to the fullest. I would say that I enjoyed the company during the tasting proportionally more than the wine itself and would recommend this experience for wine novices and experts alike. I especially enjoyed the educational component of the tasting when each wine was explained. For $15 I would say that this tasting was a good value. You not only get a sample of the restaurant's food, but the sample sizes of each wine was approximately the size of a standard serving of wine. This is the tasting for you if you enjoy the social aspect of wine and wine tastings! I will definitely be returning for another enjoyable experience at V Paul's.-Anna

Value of Wine Tasting

Why should you bother going out to wine tastings, especially during the week? There are so many valid reasons to not go. They almost all occur right after work, when most people need to get home to the family, make dinner, let the dog out, go work out, etc. Or you might just be “peopled out” and could not imagine talking to, or interacting with, anyone else.

These reasons and more may prevent the occasional wine drinker to the avid wine enthusiast from going out to a wine tasting, and at no point should you feel bad about it!

But if you in the market for some wine let me give a few reasons to consider the value getting out to a wine tasting every now and then, perhaps one or two reasons that you haven’t considered.

"It's just so easy to grab a bottle of wine while I am already at the grocery store." That is the single biggest comment that I hear.  It is also the best way to get BAD wine!

The first value to consider is the ability to buy a wine that you got to taste! If you are buying a wine at a tasting, after tasting it, that probably means that you liked it. You can then rest assured of the value on the dollar amount that you spent for that wine, I.e. you didn’t just waste money, and most importantly, you didn’t waste your time on a wine that you won’t like once you get home. Why buy a wine that you might be anxious about, concerned whether or not it will be good? The answer is don't!

Second is the Dollar amount.  In addition to you getting to taste the wine before you buy it, all of the paid wine tastings offer discounts on that wine, anywhere from 10% up to $5 off a bottle. The free tastings all offer a loyalty discount, such as Aragon’s “buy eight bottles and get $20 off the ninth.” Therefore the actual dollar value of the wine is better than, let’s say, the grocery store. That may surprise you!

So if you are going to buy wine then going to wine tasting, even for just a short amount of time, will yield you with a better and cheaper wine than you may have otherwise obtained. Oh, and you have, overall, saved some time. I call that a 3win; a win win win!

Two of this week’s Crowd Favorites; Izadi Rioja Reserva 2018 and Mettler Albariño 2021, saved me time, money, and any anxiety. So even if your weekly schedule is often against you getting out to the local wine tastings, maybe considering the actual valve of buying wine at a tasting.  Perhaps that will persuade you to reconsider.

Anna recaps Aragon’s 7 September Tasting

As the summer is coming to an end, we are getting to the point where we are closing down the season with a wonderful transition of wines that suit both the hot summer days and the more chilly days of autumn. Living in Florida, however, is the exception to the rule and one can enjoy the more "summery" wines for much longer. Today we were served an excellent lineup of vino by Kevin (WSET3) with Terroir Selections at the Thursday Aragon Wine Market tasting. His knowledge in the wine he poured was excellent and all-encompassing. The line-up this week included the following:2022 Tenuta le Calcinaie Vernacchia di San Gimignano, 2018 Mt. Beautiful Riesling from New Zealand, 2019 Constantia Uitsig Semillion, 2022 Yves Cuilleron "Les Vignes d'a Cote" Syrah, 2020 Powell & Son "Riverside: G.S.M., and 2019 Chateau de Pitray Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux.All were tasty and perfect for the end of summer and budget friendly, ranging from $19-$24. The Crowd Favorite was a tie between the 2022 Tenuta le Calcinaie Vernacchia di San Gimignano and the 2022 Yves Cuilleron "Les Vignes d'a Cote" Syrah.The Vernacchia appealed to me the most due to the very refreshing crispness of the green apple I tasted. It was perfectly tart and fruity and did not leave to much guessing as to what fruit you were tasting. The Yves Cuilleron Syrah also appealed to me and was nice and medium-bodied with a well-balanced oaky taste with hints of red fruit. I could easily see why either of these two wines were competing for #1 spot!One part of the tasting I enjoyed most was encouraging someone to try a wine they would not have typically chosen for themselves. This person ended up liking the Vernacchia after I had recommended that they try it. I always recommend trying everything once! The worst case scenario is that it does not appeal to you and you can dump out of excess wine in your glass, and the best case scenario is that you found your new favorite wine!I cannot discuss this tasting at Aragon without talking about the other huge hit- the sourdough bread! I cannot sing its praises enough, the baker at Local Thyme Bakery does an excellent job every time their bread is available for sampling at Aragon's tastings. They had baked goods available at the tasting and they almost ran out of their supply at the end! Please visit their Instagram page @ltbpensacola to view when their weekly baked good drops are available.Overall, the wine tasting was super and our hosts at Aragon Wine Market were fabulous as always to provide a relaxing and fun atmosphere to taste wines with Kevin from Terroir Selections providing a superb selection for the crowd.Happy tasting!-Anna

How to take a chance on a Bottle of Wine

Getting back into my schedule after returning from my trip has proven to be more difficult than I expected. Several missed tastings has been the main casualty, along with my health.

Now that I was finally feeling better I was able to finish my week on a pretty good note while visiting some friends this weekend. An elaborate dinner was planned, so of course I brought a bottle of wine. I have tasted most of the wines that I have in my archives, but a few I took a chance on. The bottle that I brought to share this evening was one of my “Take a Chance on Me” wines. I will probably hum that Abba song for the next bottle!

Due to forces outside of our control, the elaborate dinner turned into a simple cookout. So, after some needed time in the cool healing waters of The Cold Hole of the Magnolia Springs River and a 1/2 mile swim it was time to open the wine I brought.

Is it truly fair to call my bottle, which I hadn’t tasted, a “Take a Chance” wine? It was from a great location, known for growing exceptional grapes of this particular variety, made by a good winemaker. Not expensive but not cheap. I felt pretty confident.

Showing up to a gathering/party/dinner, etc., with a bottle of wine is always a test, especially when everyone knows you as “The Wine Expert” (which I don’t like to be called). I had the wine at the correct temperature (66 F for this hot day) and gave it about 30 minutes of air. My friends’ wives tasted it with me. The first response from one of them was a joyous cuss word, ending with some surprise. I just laughed!

I actually rather enjoy the “pressure” of bring a wine to social gatherings. Nailing it is pretty common for me. Not always, and not to sound arrogant, but when you go to a lot of tastings, begin to pay attention to what you are drinking; the flavors, the feel, and then geek out a little on some wine knowledge, then being confident on a wine that you haven’t tasted should not be a alien concept.

The pictures on this post are the Crowd Favorites from both Aragon on Thursday and The Bottle Shop on Baylen Friday (1 from Aragon, 2 from Bottle Shop). What was my “Take a Chance on Me” wine? Ask me at the next tasting. See you then.

V Paul’s August Vino Magnifico

The night started out with Charles De Fere Blanc De BlancNice bright sparkling wine. apple and peach on the tongue with some easy acidity. A wine you can drink anytime, for any reason.Next, Condo Sur ChardonnayVanilla and oak notes but still very green. The flavor is actually somewhat diluted.Cheese risotto for the interlude. Not bad.Then Gabbiano Chianti Classico 2019 Dark plum color with soft tannins. Raspberry notes roll easily off the back of the tongue. A perennial favorite, this wine can stand well without food and never fails to deliver a great value every day.Now, Uppercut Cabernet Sauvignon 2021. Deep garnet color, heavy tannins and a sweetness n the tip of the tongue. There are dark berries but they dissipate too soon. This is a typical fruit forward California Cabernet that is made to appeal to the masses.To end the evening, Marietta Old Vine Red NV Claret with cherry notes lead to some nicely formed tannins. The dark fruit lasts a good while and the enjoyment of the wine is long lasting. This one is a good value.Hope to see everyone at the next Vino Magnifico!-Melissa and Bob

Aragon’s August 3rd Tasting

Another hot summer day, and another Thursday. Naturally one of the things we had to do was check out the Thursday wine tasting at the Aragon Wine Market. This was my third tasting at Aragon and already I am starting to recognize the usual crowd that makes this their meeting spot on Thursdays. There is a good mix of young professionals and more seasoned wine enthusiasts. It also happened to be Charlotte’s birthday tasting, with Pepper pouring some stellar wines today. Each bottle ranged between $17 and $22. The wines included the following:

La Tordera "Serrai" Prosecco D.O.C.G., 2020 Matteo Braidot Friuli Pinot Grigio, 2022 Marisco "The Ned" N.Z. Sauvignon Blanc, 2017 Twenty Rows Sonoma Pinot Noir, 2017 D'arenberg "The Stump Jump" Red Blend, and 2020 Hedges "C.M.S." Cabernet Sauvignon.

This selection was widely popular among the different people Alex and I interacted with. Alex and I had joined the 5pm-7pm tasting at different times. Alex was there early for the first half of the tasting while I got to meet others through the second half of the tasting. One thing that was noticed was that the La Tordera "Serrai '' Prosecco D.O.C.G was just subtly the crowd favorite. Alex and I both agreed that it was a lovely prosecco that felt not too light and not too heavy on the tongue. The bubbles covered the tongue just right and this dry prosecco had acid that was balanced nicely to make this a very bright.

The most contentious wine of the evening was 2022 Marisco "The Ned" N.Z. Sauvignon Blanc. The wine, named after the peak in New Zealand called "The Ned," split the tasters. Half got a lot of citrus and a crisp after taste while the other half did not. Everyone agreed that the acidity was well balanced and the citrus taste, big or not, was not bitter. It had a medium weight on the tongue. Overall, I enjoyed this wine even if it does not stand out to me. I noticed among the crowd at the tasting that you either loved it or disliked it.

My favorite of the night was the 2017 Twenty Rows Sonoma Pinot Noir. Before this wine passed my lips I noticed the dark, brownish, red of the wine. It leaned more acidic but was very smooth and not strong in the tannin-like taste that usually leans more towards bitter. I enjoyed the oaky taste and the red stone fruit taste like cherry mingling together. I thought that out of all the wines tonight it was the most well-balanced out of the six.

I also cannot go without mentioning that along with the sampling of wine was the sampling of the most delicious sourdough bread from Local Thyme Bakery. Be sure to follow them on Instagram ( @ltbpensacola) to order from them! I was found frequently walking over to the table with the sourdough because I could not get enough!

Be sure to check out @aragonwinemarket and @gulfcoastwine for future tastings!

Cheers to the new month as we share wine with friends and strangers alike!

-Anna

Swirling Wine

Can you remember the first time you swirled the wine in your glass? If so can you remember where you learned that quintessential and often cliched action? Unless you grew up as a wine savant in a isolated wine cave in the Douro Valley you didn’t start swirling wine on your own. So why is it done? Should you do it with every wine? Can you over swirl? Let’s take a look.You can type “why do you swirl wine” into any search engine and get a number pretty decent answers. Yet I have not found just one spot that combines and condenses all of them into a single recommendation.So. Should you swirl every wine, every time? No.I am going to address the “How” to swirl your wine first. Do it gently with out spilling it. It’s not a washing machine, slow and gentle, for 6-8 seconds at a time. You CAN over swirl it! There is also an element here on the proper way to hold your glass:  NOT by the cup (the curved bowl section)! If you would like a tutorial please ask me at the next tasting.Whether it’s a wine you just opened at home or at a wine tasting, restaurant, wherever; Smell your wine first without doing anything. Yes, that’s not a typo, smell your wine first. Then taste it.Now, at this point, you can swirl your wine, unless it is a very old wine. Very old wines tend to be very delicate and swirling them can break them down. You don’t have to swirl, it’s up to you, but if you do swirl continue.So you poured wine in your glass. You smelled it, tasted it, swirled it, gently. Now smell and taste it again. Was it better or worse? If it was worse then don’t swirl anymore. If it continues to not taste good POUR IT OUT, it’s probably a bad wine! If it continues to taste better, then give it a gentle swirl each time before you take a drink, smelling often.So why can it get better when we swirl, what’s happening? Oxidation. Just like an aerator, swirling mixes oxygen into the wine, making it easer to smell, which science has proven to be about 75% of what you taste. Smelling wine helps you taste wine.The mixing of oxygen can also begin to break down tannins, making some big wines a little softer and thus more pleasant.Hopefully this gives you a little more guidance on why and when we swirl. Just don’t spill it on yourself or others. Cheers!

East Hill Bottle Shop tasting & BBQ

It should be no surprise to most of you; but we go to a wine tasting for the people as much as, sometimes more than, the actual wine. Good wine is always a motivator, so is the yet-to-be-met fellow taster.

This week I had both motivations; going for the wine on Wednesday, then going for the people on Saturday.

Wednesday’s tasting ended up with a Crowd Favorite that surprised most of the tasters with how smooth and easy it was. La Crema Pinot Noir 2019 from the Monterey area of California seemed to hit most tasters just right: light red fruit, no rough tannins, not overly acidic, a great buy for an easy light bodied red wine.

Several friends ended up not being able to join me for the rescheduled Wine & BBQ event as planned. The food was great, yet a chance meeting with an elder retired Marine really made it an experience for me. How often do we have the chance to meet so many amazing and diverse people? Well, wine tastings have proven to increase those chances!