Wine Tasting: Jam Jar Sweet White Muscat

Name:  Jam Jar Sweet White
Variety: Muscat

Region: Western Cape

Country: South Africa
Year: 2011
Price: $9

Shop review: Soft floral hints add depth to the otherwise straightforward ripe peach and nectarine aromas. There’s a good balance in the mouth, with a nice acidic lift and slightly lime edge to cut the sweetness on the finish and close with the faintest hint of honeydew melons.

My review:  Smelled of sweet peaches and clementines. Tasted like a mouthful of sugar, with some tropical fruit flavors. 

Wine Tasting: Entrada Malbec

Name: Entrada
Variety: Malbec

Region: 

Country: Argentina
Year: Mendoza
Price: $6

Shop review: Firm and structured, this is a solid wine, laced with mineral acidity and tight tannins. It has a juicy, blackberry fruit component cutting through the texture.

My review:  When I first smelled this wine, the first thing that came to mind was how different (aka, weird) it smelled, like decomposing leaves and peat, with some plum and blackberry. However, after letting it sit for a few minutes, the weird smells started to fade away, leaving behind the berry smells. It tasted of dark berries and plum. After taking a bottle home, I let it sit open all day before drinking it, and there was non of the peat smells that I noticed during the tasting. 

Wine Tasting: Vina Borgia Borsao Grenache

Name:  Vina Borgia Borsao 
Variety: Grenache

Region: Campo de Borja

Country: Spain
Year: 2012
Price: $7

Shop review: Also made from 100% Grenache, the 2012 Vina Borgia was fermented and aged in stainless steel. Its medium dark ruby color is followed by abundant notes of strawberries and black cherries offered in a straightforward, medium-bodied, soft, hedonistic, round style. It is hard to believe a wine this good can sell for $7 a bottle. Enjoy it over the next 1-2 years.

My review:  Buttery and creamy smell at first, which I though was strange to smell in a wine that was aged in stainless steel. After it opened up, it smelled of cherry and strawberry jam. This wine was fairly light for a red wine, and not very dry. I primarily tasted cherry.

Wine Tasting: Peter Lehmann Chardonnay

Name:  Peter Lehmann
Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Barossa Valley

Country: Australia
Year: 2010
Price: $10

Shop review: The 2010 Chardonnay presents subtle notes of spiced apple slices and ripe peaches with hints of freshly baked bread and melon. Light bodied, clean and refreshingly crisp in the mouth, it offers just enough apple and pear flavor concentration, finishing with medium-long persistence. Drink it now to 2014.

My review:  Smelled very similarly to white grape juice, and had a similar texture of grape juice: light and thin. There were some apple and pear flavors,  but was very light on any distinct taste, with almost no finish. 

Wine Tasting: Protocolo Vino de la Tiera de Castilla

Name:  Protocolo Vino de la Tiera de Castilla
Variety: 50% Airen, 50% Macabeo

Region: Castilla La Mancha

Country: Spain
Year: 2012
Price: $7

Shop review: 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:  This wine smelled like oranges and citrus. It was light and dry, with a minty orange flavor and a long finish.

Wine Tasting: R Wines Eco.Love Riesling

Name:  R Wines Eco.Love
Variety: Riesling

Region: South Island

Country: New Zealand
Year: 2012
Price: $18

Shop review: Our South Island Riesling has a range and combination of flavors unlike any other. These flavors span citrus, root ginger, white peach, spices and florals. Eco.love Riesling is made in balance to an off-dry style. Food Pairing: Asian Fusion, Seafood, Curry, and anything spicy.

My review:  This wine didn't smell very sweet or dry, which is something that most Riesling's I've had have been very distinctive in. There was slight hints of peach on the nose, but otherwise I had to really struggle to get anything out of this wine. There was not much flavor, other than some kind of floral taste, again not being either sweet or dry. I wouldn't get this again, because I've had much better sweet and dry Rieslings. 

Wine Tasting: Toschi Cabernet Sauvignon

Name:  Toschi
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $9

Shop review: Well-balanced flavors of dark berries and plums. Spicy fruit finish.

My review:  This was one of the most interesting wines I've ever had, but this time, that was not a good thing. It smelled of forest and earth, with some spiced pepper. It reminded me of what lincoln logs smell like after they've been stored in the attic for a long time. The wine was not very tannic, which I found surprising considering its' dark color. It had a very thick texture, and tasted (and felt) like what I imagine it would be like to eat a moss smoothie. IT had a smoky campfire aftertaste, which normally I would consider to be good, but here it just wasn't.  This is probably my least favorite wine I've ever had. That being said, I would almost be inclined to taste this again, but with a different vintage, to see if it really is something I don't like, or if it was just a bad year for the winery.

Wine Tasting: Canyon Road Pinot Noir

Name:  Canyon Road 
Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: Tuscany

Country: California
Year: 2012
Price: $7

Shop review: Rich, fruit forward cherry flavors, soft tannins, a medium body and a smooth velvety finish. Pairs well with creamy soups, salmon, and savory pork dishes.

My review:  This light red colored wine smelled very strongly of oak at first, but later I noticed some hints of strawberry and sweet cherry. This wine was very soft, and almost creamy, again with a taste of strawberry and cherry.

Wine Tasting: Wine Men of Gotham Chardonnay Semillon

Name:  Wine Men of Gotham
Variety: 80% Chardonnay, 20% Semillon
Country: Australia
Year: 2008
Price: $8

Shop review: Chardonnay Semillon is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Semillon. It gives a moderate intensity of melon, guava, apricot and butterscotch aromas. The medium bodied palate provides attractive acidity along with plenty of tropical fruit flavors and a medium-long finish.

My review:  This wine smelled much fruitier than the Saugvignon Blanc we just tasted, with a strong lime and cantaloupe smell. It was very lacking in flavor however, with only hints of some some citrus. It was very light and crisp, but not something I would order again, because it had a boring flavor. 

Wine Tasting: Indwe Sauvgnon Blanc

Name:  Indwe 
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Country: South Africa
Year: 2012
Price: $8

Shop review: Grapes are meticulously sourced from our grape producers along the Coastal region of the Western Cape ensuring complexity and freshness in the wine. Indwe Sauvignon Blanc is full of layers, balance and persistence. The wine is imbued with tropical and citrus notes, with hints of melon and gooseberry flavors. 

My review:  This was a great white wine to start the day with. It smelled of honeysuckle, flowers, and honeydew, but did not smell overly sweet. It had a light, subtle lemon and melon flavor, but was fairly thick texture. I enjoyed this wine, and it was definitely my favorite white wine of the day.

Wine Tasting: Tour De Segur

Name:  Chateau Tour De Segur
Variety: 65% Merlot,  25% Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Lussac-Saint-Emilion
Country: France
Year: 2011
Price: $23

Shop review: St Emilion, Bordeaux, France-This Merlot-based wine is both rich and elegant. The silky earthiness of the St Emilion region and a year of oak aging are a lovely complement to the baked dark cherry fruit. 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

My review:  This was the only wine I had at France. The Tour De Segur Bordeaux Blend was recommended by cast member, who said it was his favorite dry red that they stocked. It was an extremely dark color, and smelled of blackberries and raspberries. It was very tannic and dry, and tasted like cherries and blackberries.

Wine Tasting: Sogno d' Italia Pinot Grigio

Name:  Sogno d' Italia Pinot Grigio
Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Tuscany

Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $17

Shop review: Our Pinot Grigio is fresh and crisp with flavors of pears and white flowers. A delightful complement to antipasto, fish, pastas and light dishes. This pinot grigio is unique, in that it hails from Tuscany, a warmer climate that the northern regions to which pinot grigio wines were once relegated. As a result, it balances a fragrent bouquet and crisp freshness with succulent fruit flavors and a lingering finish. It pleases as a charming aperitif, and as a distinguished pairing to mixed antipastos, pastas in light sauces, shellfish salads and broiled fish or chicken.

My review:  This was the second wine I tasted in Italy at EPCOT. The wine smelled strongly of citrus and flowers, but also smelled somewhat like grass. It tasted of herbs and citrus, and was pretty dry for a white wine. I enjoyed this wine, and would order it again if it was available outside of Disney World.

Wine Tasting: Sogno d' Italia Chianti

Name:  Sogno d' Italia Chianti
Variety: 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 15% Malvasia 

Region: Tuscany

Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $17

Shop review: True to Tuscany’s winemaking tradition, this chianti is predominantly made with the region’s native Sangiovese grape. It is fresh, with a bright fruit character, and is eminently drinkable. It brings pleasure in both its aroma and taste, and makes a quenching match to a wide variety of foods, from the humblest wraps, sandwiches and finger foods to composed salads, pasta dishes and grilled meats. Our Chianti is pleasantly soft and round with notes of cherries and plums with hints of spice. Ideal with red sauced pastas, grilled meats, and aged cheeses.

My review:  This was the first of the two wines I tasted in Italy. The first thing I smelled was oak and butter, then smelled that the wine was extremely jammy, with raspberry and cherry notes. The wine was not very sweet, but also not tannic. The most distinguishable taste was plum. I enjoyed this wine, but doubt I will have it again, only because it is bottled exclusively for Disney Parks.

Wine Tasting: Selbach-Oster Riesling

Name:  Selbach-Oster Riesling Spatlese 2011
Variety: Riesling

Region: Mosel

Country: Germany
Year: 2011
Price: $28

Shop review: A marriage of fine Rieslings from different plots of our vineyards, specially selected for this wine.

My review:  This was the second wine we tasted in Germany at EPCOT. The wine smelled of pear and apples. The wine was very sweet, and tasted like a typical german riesling. While it was good, I wouldn't want to pay $28 for a bottle, when i could get something similar for much less.

Wine Tasting: P.J. Valckenberg Gewurztraminer

Name:  P.J. Valckenberg
Variety: Gewurztraminer

Region: Pfalz

Country: Germany
Year: 2012
Price: $17

Shop review: Very fragrant, like a bouquet of roses. Off-dry, notes of ripe peaches and litchi. Good with spicy cuisine, seafood, poultry, and barbecue.

My review:  Over spring break, we tasted a variety of wines from Disney's EPCOT World Showcase, where there are different sections devoted to eleven different countries. We visited the France, Germany, and Italy tasting rooms, and sampled a number of wines from each location. The first wine was a Gewurztraminer from the German Weinkeller. This wine smelled sweet, and had an apple cinnamon nose. It was also very floral. The wine was not tannic at all, and went down very smooth, with more taste of apple.  I would certainly but more of this, but I didn't want to lug around a bottle of wine around Disney World. 

Wine Tasting: Loredona Riesling

Name: Loredona
Variety: Riesling

Region: Monterey, California

Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $15

Shop review: If you like your Rieslings on the sweet side, this pretty wine is for you. It’s brisk in Central Coast acidity, with citrus, peach, honeysuckle and spice flavors that finish clean and long. 

My review:  I was relieved to see that we would not be closing this wine tasting with a moscato, like we had the last three or four times I visited the Vintage Cellar. The wine had a very strong melon smell, with some hints of a sweet lemon candy.  Like the previous closers I've had at the Vintage Cellar, this wine was very sweet. However, the sweetness was more of a fruity sweetness, and not a sugary sweetness like the other moscato finishers I had. The strongest taste I could pick up was peach, with some hints of the cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew I had picked up earlier.  While I almost always pick up a dry red wine, this was the wine I chose this week. Partly because it was one of the best sweet wines I've ever had, and partly because I'm going home for spring break, and I know that they like sweet whites. 

Wine Tasting: Maipe Malbec

Name: Maipe Malbec
Variety: Malbec

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina
Price: $8.95

Shop review:  Deep purple color with violet tints, complex plum, fig, strawberry, spices and floral aromas; rounded and velvety tannins, excellent length with a distinguished character. Excellent when paired with game, roasted red meats, pasta or pizza.

My review:  This wine was similar to most other malbec wines I've had, with its berry/cherry nose, but with some hints of rose flowers. To taste, the wine was surprisingly not very tannic, but did have some black pepper kick to it. The wine mostly had cherry and raspberry flavor. While not my favorite malbec I've ever had, I would order it again.

Wine Tasting: Villa d' Rosso Toscano

Name: Villa d' Rosso Toscano
Variety: Sangiovese

Region: Montepulciano

Country: Italy
Year: 
Price: $6.95

Shop review:  100% sangiovese grapes and is a wonderful rendition of a velvety Tuscan red. 

My review:  The first thing that came to mind when I was smelling this wine was that it was very jammy. It didn't come until later what kind of jam, it just had that strong berry-preservative smell to it. Mostly though it smelled of grape and strawberry jam, with some buttery smell to it. The wine tasted like grape jelly, and was dry and tannic, though not very bitter. The aftertaste was fairly strong, and reminded me of an earthy, herb flavor.

Wine Tasting: Arnold Palmer Chardonnay

Name: Arnold Palmer 
Variety: Chardonnay

Region: California

Country: United States
Year: 2011
Price: $20

Shop review:  A vibrant Chardonnay from vineyards in cooler climates of California. Chardonnay is well known for its characteristic fresh apple fruit aromas and rounded, rich flavors. Weather during the 2011 harvest provided ideal growing  conditions for lush, yet perfectly balanced fruit.

My review:  I was dissapointed when this didn't taste like tea and lemonade; in fact, it was very similar to the first Chardonnay we tasted today. There was some hints of mango and pineapple on the nose, but again the flavor was pretty lacking. I was able to pick up some rotting apple, but there was some alcohol taste as well. The wine was crisp and light, but also fairly dry. Again, I'm not a fan of Chardonnay, and would probably not try this again. 

Wine Tasting: El Sierro Macabeo Chardonnay

Name: El Sierro
Variety: Macabeo, Chardonnay

Region: Valencia

Country: Spain
Year: 2012
Price: $6.95

Shop review: In the glass, there is a bright and shiny white wine with an incredibly welcoming, fresh appetizing aroma reminiscent of ripe tropical fruits. The flavor is rich, balanced and extremely comfortable. The near-perfect all-purpose white wine. As an additional benefit, and good evidence that El Sierro reflect the new Spain, the bottle is sealed with the technical viewed perfect screw cap that at once eliminates any risk of cork flavor and keeps the fruit and the wine fresher for a longer time. 

My review:  Even with the addition of the Macabeo grape, which I have never had before, this wine was very much a typical chardonnay. There was a good nose to it, but hardly any flavor. The wine smelled of mango and honeydew, and had a bit of an acidic smell to it. The wine itself was very light and watery, with some taste of fruit, but nothing that really stood out. It wasn't bad, but I still probably wouldn't try this again.

Wine Tasting: First Light Moscato

Name: First Light
Variety: Moscato

Country: Australia

Price: $15

Shop review:  Ripe lychee, tropical fruits and musk on the nose as you near the glass. Lovely grape and stone fruits and on the palate is highlighted with the subtle sweetness and spritz that makes this such a fun drink. Low in alcohol and nicely balanced acidity ensure you will want more than one glass of this easy drinking wine.

My review:  I went into this wine knowing it was going to be sweet for me, and I was right. It smelled like sweet carbonated water, which is not something I'm fond of. It actually didn't taste too sweet though, which I found surprising. The wine at a bit of a fizz to it, and tasted of  tropical fruit, mostly papaya and pineapple. Of all the sweet moscato I've tasted in the past few weeks, this one was my favorite, but I still would rather have a nice, dry malbec.

Wine Tasting: CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: CalNaturale
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Paso Robles, California

Country: United States
Year: 2009
Price: $16

Shop review:  95 % Cabernet Sauvignon with 5% Viognier this certified organic winery produces outstanding quality at reasonable prices offering classic Cabernet flavors of fresh herb, olive, cedar and cassis. Focused and intense, with a charming rustic side and broad tannins that firm up on the finish.

My review:  This wine had a very different nose than most Cabernet Sauvignon I've had in the past. It had a very mossy, woody smell to it, but at the same time was somewhat vinegary. I'm not sure if it was my mind playing tricks on me because it was in a juice box, but I also smelled some plastic. To taste, the wine was actually very good. It was very bold and dry, and had blackberry and cranberry undertones. While it was very good, I'm not sure if I would have this again, if only because I can't get over the fact that it it looks like it should come with a bendy straw. Maybe it would be perfect for a picnic though.

Wine Tasting: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

Name: Georges Duboeuf
Variety: Gamay

Region: Beaujolais

Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: $15

Shop review:  An aromatic red, with floral and white peach notes accenting the black raspberry and plum flavors. This is open-knit and fresh, offering light tannins on the finish.

My review:  This wine had a lot of complex smells, that all hit at the same time and were difficult to distinguish from one another. First, there was some upfront oakiness, followed by plum, raspberry jam, and lots of berry fruitiness. The wine tasted a lot like Brach's hard strawberry candy (the pink candy in the red and green wrappers), as well as a dry, menthol-cough drop aftertaste. I was unsure of whether I liked this wine after tasting it, but I would be willing to give it another try later on, since it was so complex.

Wine Tasting: Belrame Tocai Friulano

Name: Belrame
Variety: Tocai Friulano (Sauvignon Vert)

Region: Friuli

Country: Italy
Year: 2009
Price: $15

Shop review:  Straw-colored yellow with a pale green tint express an intense, delicately aromatic and floral bouquet. The flavor is dry, soft, slightly fruity, with slightly bitter nuance in its almond aftertaste, and suggestion of peach.

My review:  My first thought when smelling this wine was that it had an almond nose, which I thought was a strange thing to smell in a wine, until I read the shop review and realized that they had also said that it had hints of almond. Apart from that, there was a smell of fresh cut grass and flowers. As  for taste, the wine was not very sweet, but also not very dry. It most resembled old grape juice, which I didn't really like.

Wine Tasting: Mas LLunes Maragda Grenache

Name: Mas LLunes
Variety: White Garnatxa , Red Grenache , Macabeu

Region: Emporada

Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $16

Shop review: This Grenache Blanc is exquisitely sculpted with sharp acids and pinpointed minerals, and offers orange, melon and vanilla-honey flavors. A delight to drink, at a great price.

My review:  This wine had a very weak nose at first, but when it did open up, it had a nice pear and orange zest smell. The wine was also very light on flavor, with more hints of orange and honey. The best way to describe this wine is crisp and light. A bit too light for my tastes, though, so I would not have this again.