Bordeaux's sweet side is amazing

When you think of Bordeaux you are most likely to think of Bordeaux's spectacular red wines, or maybe some of its awesome white wines however, Bordeaux has a sweet side. While attending the 2021 Wine Media Conference #WMC21 I attended a Discovery Session on the Sweet Wines of Bordeaux. I soon fell in love with the sweet side of Bordeaux.

Bordeaux, France

The session was given by Union Des Vines Doux De Bordeaux. The Union Des Vins Doux de Bordeaux is an association of four organizations:

• ODG des Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieurs
• ODG des Premières Côtes de Bordeaux et Cadillac
• ODG des Liquoreux de Bordeaux
• ODG des Côtes de Bordeaux Saint Macaire

Tasting Sweet Wines of Bordeaux © Spaswinefood

The Union ensures the protection of official logos identifying the quality and origin of the grapes and the wines. It includes eight Appellations, eight interpretations of wines, which they describe as sensual, fruity and voluptuous for all occasions and tastes!

Sweet Wines of Bordeaux 

A Sweet Bordeaux Afternoon at #WMC21 

Indeed for me tasting four sweet Bordeaux wines was a perfect afternoon. The following suggestions were made for serving these wines:

Serving Suggestions for Sweet Wines of Bordeaux © Spaswinefood

Next, four wines were introduced.

Sweet Wines of Bordeaux © Spaswinefood

During the tasting we checked out some foods to pair with each wine.

Tasting the Sweet Wines of Bordeaux © Spaswinefood

The four wines were:

1. Chateau La Hargue, Bordeaux Moelleux Semi Dry 2019

Chateau La Hargue, Bordeaux Moelleux Semi Dry 2019 © Spaswinefood

This wine produced from Semillion, Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris grapes is an off-dry wine with a nice balance between sugar and acidity. It has hints of tree fruits, honey and minerals that make it enticing. The wine sells for around $11, a fabulous Price Quality Ratio (PQR).

Available in the US at:

• Medallion Global, Texas

• Baystate Wine & Spirits  Massachussets/Rhodes Island/New Hampshire.

• Terreaneo Merchants in Illinois /New York /and  New Jersey, Laville Imports

2. Chateau des Arroucats, AOC Saint Croix-du-Mont Sweet 2017

Chateau des Arroucats, AOC Saint Croix-du-Mont Sweet 2017 © Spaswinefood

Produced from 92% Semillion, and 8% Sauvignon grapes this wine is medium gold in color. It is aromatic with tropical-fruit flavors of mango, pineapple, with hits of apple, pear, marmalade, and blossom. This medium-bodied Bordeaux has a medium to long finish, and has been described as having a creamy texture. It paired well with the blue cheese and dried apricots. Selling around $15 a bottle this another a fabulous Price Quality Ratio (PQR).

Available in the US at: Vintage Wine Marketing 

3. Chateau du Cros, AOC Loupiac 2016

Chateau du Cros, AOC Loupiac 2016 © Spaswinefood

This wine is produced from 90% Semillon, with 5% Sauvignon Gris and % Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Deep gold in color, this full-bodied sweet Bordeaux on the nose has intense aromas of apricot, pineapple, orange marmalade, mango, apple, with hints of lychee and white peach. On the palate these flavors are complex with a long finish.  Available at around $22 this winehas the richness of Sauternes but it costs a fraction of the price. 

Available in the US at:

Calvert Woodley Fine Wines & Spirits, 4339 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 2008 

Contacts : Michaël Sands,  Jennifer Sanders (WWW.calvertwoodley.com)

4. Chateau La Rame, Cadillac Semi-Sweet 2017 

Chateau La Rame, Cadillac Semi-Sweet 2017 © Spaswinefood

This wine is produced from 90% Semillion and 10% Sauvignon grapes. It has a perfect Golden Color, with inviting aromas, and citrus and exotic fruits, and hints of miner laity with nice acidity on the palate. Even at $30 bottle, the most expensive of the four we tasted, this is a good PQR. It is a wine that will age well. I would love to taste this wine after further aging.

Available in the US at: 

Rosenthal Wine Merchant  56-43  58 Th St. Queens NY 11378, www.madrose.com

I tasted each of the above wines with four food pairing options.

Food Pairing for Sweet Wines of Bordeaux © Spaswinefood

These above food pairing were but an intro to the range of possibilities. There are many exciting food pairings (tapas, plates, cheeses, and desserts) for Sweet Bordeaux wines. The Union Des Vines Doux De Bordeaux website Sweet Bordeaux is a must. 

Pairings with Sweet Wines of Bordeaux © Spaswinefood

Bordeaux's sweet side is amazing. I loved discovering the sweet side of Bordeaux. It is so easy to fall in love with the Sweet Wines of Bordeaux. If you have not yet to discover Sweet Bordeaux Wines now is the perfect time to explore. Founded in 2009 by the Union des Grands Vin Liquoreux de Bordeaux, Sweet Bordeaux is a brand of sweet and dessert white wines, from eight Protected Designations of Origin (DOCs) vineyards within the Bordeaux region. The slow, painstaking harvesting process and limited production makes Sweet Bordeaux especially rare and selective white wines. Besides their awesome website you can also connect with them on Instagram and Facebook. I invite you to join me in my future wine adventures at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon and at Spaswinefood  on  Twitter and Facebook. 

CHEERS!

Sharon

August 2021

Oregon

© Spaswinefood

Discovery Session: Sweet Wines of Bordeaux © Spaswinefood

Sweet Wines of Bordeaux Session, WMC21 © Spaswinefood

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Note: The above session that I attended was one of Charming Taste of Europe's  two Discovery Sessions at the 2021 Wine Media Conference. The Union of Sweet Bordeaux Wines is part of the mission of The Charming taste of Europe, co-funded by the European Union, to increase awareness of the merits and quality standards of select European wines and fresh fruits in the competitive markets of the United States of America and Canada. The project is promoted by the the Union of Sweet Bordeaux Wines. These French golden wines are produced with the artistry of agricultural traditions. Their campaign hopes to awaken the senses and a new culinary consciousness by connecting food, cultures, and territories and will undoubtedly bring European charm into the lives of many.

Italy: Le Marche wine inspires adventures

Our Grand Canyon trip included a special bottle of wine, which led us to start planning for a Le Marche (pronounced Markay) wine journey. These days we are dreaming about exploring Italy's Le Marche wine region. We were inspired by a session at the 2021 Wine Media Conference (#WMC21) on Le Marche that featured Velenosivini wines. After learning about this wine region and tasting some Le Marche wines it makes us want to visit soon. Until we do let's begin a virtual adventure. 

Roggio Del Filare, Rosso Picino D.O.C. Superioré © Spaswinefood

Enjoying Le Marche Wine at the South Rim, Grand Canyon © Spaswinefood

Off the Wine Road 

Does where you drink wine make a difference? For sure drinking a Le Marche wine at edge of the Grand Canyon was an ideal setting. It was also perfect timing for reflecting on an earlier tasting of Le Marche wines.

Exploring Le Marche Wines, #WMC21 © Spaswinefood

For sure tasting these wines makes you want to know more about this Italian wine region.

Italy's Marche Wine Country

Le Marche wine region is on the eastern side of central Italy. It is considered to be Italy’s coastal gem. Winemaking in Le Marche dates back thousands of years, being influenced by Etruscans, Romans and Lombards. While Le Marche is best known for its white wines Trebbiano and Verdiccho, it is also home to some big quality reds. Some of Italy’s finest Marche wines comes from Montepulciano and Sangiovese grapes. 

Why Le Marche, Italy © Spaswinefood

While sometimes overshadowed by its neighbors Abruzzo to the south, and Umbria and Tuscany to the west, the Le Marche wine region produces great wines. It is home to 15 DOCs and 5 DOCGs.

Marche Wine Appellations © Spaswinefood

During #WMC21 we explored wines from Marche's wine appellations of Verdicchio dei Castilli di Jesi, Lacrima di Morro d'Alba, and Rosso Piceno DOC's, and DOCG Pecorino. 

Tasting Marche Wines 

Earlier during the session conference attendees were introduced to wines by Velenosivini. Let's take a closer look at these Le Marche wines. The four Velenosi Ascoli Piceno wines tasted were:

1. Verdicchio Querciantica, Dei Castilli Di Jesi DOC Classico

Verdicchio Querciantica, Dei Castilli Di Jesi DOC Classico © Spaswinefood

Verdicchio ripens slowly, it is high in tartaric acid, and does well with aging in oak. This very versatile grape  allows it to be made in many styles (dry, sweet and sparkling). It is a complex wine, characterized by aromas of fruit - peach, lemon, apple, pear, and yellow plums; floral- acacia, hawthorn, chamomile, white flower; herbs- dill, thyme, anise, basil, coriander; terry- almond, honey, beeswax, lees, Unami; minerals - iodine, flint, sea spray, petrol.  While this wine is delightful young it can age, allowing for complexity, harmony and depth as it matures.

The following slide describes Verdicchio dei Castilli di Jesi DOC:

Verdicchio dei Castilli di Jesi DOC © Spaswinefood

2. Villa Angela, Offida DOCG Pecorino

Villa Angela, Offida DOCG Pecorino © Spaswinefood

Pecorino, white grape variety, grows in the Marche, Abruzzo, Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio regions of Italy. Pecorino is a very old variety. Ampelographers believe that the grape is likely native to Marche. It likely originated as a wild grapevine growing in the Sibillini Mountains, and later was domesticated for wine production. This once nearly extinct grapes has been under going a revival.

Pecorino grapes ripen early. It has been described as straw yellow, having good structure, high acidity, dry with mineral characteristics and a salty undertone. This medium body wine can have fruity aromas of apple, pear, candied orange, and tropical fruit, herbal aromas (sage, mint and thyme), and a floral bouquet (such as acacia, jasmine and linden flowers). 

How Did Pecorino Wine Get Its Name?

Historically this grape has ties to local shepherds (Pecora is Italian for sheep). There are interesting stories of how the grape got its name. It is thought that sheep nibbled on these grapes as the shepherds took care of their flock. Given that Pecorino is also a name for a cheese, one version of the story is - the shepherds compensated the vineyard owners for the grapes that the sheep ate with Pecorino cheese. Yes, Pecorino is a type of cheese. Another explanation is the shape of the grape bunches resembles a sheep's head.

Pecorino is one of the most common grape varieties in Le Marche. It is considered to be one of Italy's wine success stories of 21st century. Maybe native to Sibling Mountain area. It was abandoned and rediscovered at Arquata. Officially recognized as a wine in 1990, DOC in 2001, and DOCG in 2011.

DOCG Pecorino, Le Marche © Spaswinefood

Le Marche's Offida Pecorino DOCG requires that for Pecorino to be made as a varietal it has to make up at least 85% of the blend, with other local, non-aromatic grapes, being permitted for the remainder.

3. Querciantica Lacrima Di Morro DOC

Querciantica Lacrima Di Morro DOC © Spaswinefood

Lacrima means tear in Italian. The grape gets its name because when the grape ripens it has a thin skin, which can easily break. Given its skin breaks easily this makes it vulnerable to pests and disease. For that and other reasons it was almost abandoned, with it being rescued in 1980's and made a DOC in 1985. The characteristics of this aromatic variety include; fruit (black cherry, dark berry); floral (violets, lavender and rose buds); and spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger). This wine has an intense ruby red color with violet hues. On palette the wine is dry with medium tannins and lingering rich flavors. 

The following slide describes Lacrima Di Morro d'Alba DOC:

Lacrima Di Morro d'Alba DOC © Spaswinefood

 

4. Roggio Del Filare, Rosso Piceno DOC Superioré 2017

Roggio Del Filare, Rosso Piceno DOC Superioré © Spaswinefood

Rosso Piceno DOC Superioré © Spaswinefood

This Roggio Del Filare wine is a bright ruby red wine with slight garnet hues. It is made using 70% Montepulciano and 30% Sangiovese grapes. Obviously the characteristics of this Roggio Del Filare wine is influenced by the grapes that are used to make it.  Now for a brief look at the characteristics of Montepulciano and Sangiovese grapes. 

Characteristics of Montepulciano and Sangiovese Grapes © Spaswinefood

The wine has an  intense bouquet of ripe plums and cherries, with spices and floral nuances. On the palette this full bodied wine has strong texture, rounded tannins, with a warm, lingering velvety pulp and spicy finish.

The following slide summarizes the Rosso Picino Superioré DOC:

Rosso Picino Superioré DOC © Spaswinefood

Let's make plans to go to Italy's Le Marche wine country. For sure the Wine Media session entitled Le Marche, the "new Tuscany" in Central Italy certainly was a hit. It took us to Italy's Marche wine country to learn about its inviting wines. We have since discovered that not only are there great wines but some of Italy's best cheeses are in Le Marche. Indeed Le Marche wine inspires adventures. We invite you to join us in future wine adventures in Italy and elsewhere at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon and at Spaswinefood  on  Twitter and Facebook. 

CHEERS!

Sharon & John

August 2021

Grand Canyon, Arizona

© Spaswinefood

Why Visit Le Marche © Spaswinefood

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Italy: Abruzzo's Pecorino is on my list

When the Charming Taste of Europe presented Wines of Abruzzo, at one of its two Discovery Sessions at the 2021 Wine Media Conference (#WMC21), I had to go. The session I attended focused on Pecorino, a wine that I had encountered on a few occasions. It was the perfect opportunity for me to learn about this grape variety; hence I am indeed excited to share what I learned about Abruzzo's Pecorino wine.

Abruzzo's  Pecorino Wines © Spaswinefood

True Abruzzo is best known for Montepulciano (red grape), and Trebbiano d’Abruzzo (white grape) however, lesser known varieties like Passeribna, Cococciola, and Pecorino are now getting the attention they deserve. 

Abruzzo Grape Varieties © Spaswinefood

Pecorino is the wine to get to know! Let's take a look.

Pecorino

This white grape variety, grows in the Abruzzo, Marche, Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio regions of Italy. While the exact birthplace of Pecorino is unknown it thrives in Abruzzo. Pecorino is a very old variety. Ampelographers believe that the grape is likely native to Marche (borders on Abruzzo on the north). It likely originated as a wild grapevine growing in the Sibillini Mountains, and later was domesticated for wine production. This once nearly extinct grapes has been under going a revival.

Pecorino grapes ripen early. The wine has been described as straw yellow, having good structure, high acidity, dry with mineral characteristics and a salty undertone. This medium body wine can have fruity aromas of apple, pear, candied orange, and tropical fruit, herbal aromas (sage, mint and thyme), and a floral bouquet (such as acacia, jasmine and linden flowers). 

Characteristics of Pecorino © Spaswinefood

I am happy to report that this nearly extinct indigenous grape is now getting the attention it deserves.

How Pecorino Got Its Name

Historically this grape has ties to local shepherds.  In fact Pecora is Italian for sheep. There are interesting stories of how the grape got its name. It is thought that sheep nibbled on these grapes as the shepherds took care of their flock. Given that Pecorino is also a name for a cheese, one version of the story is - the shepherds compensated the vineyard owners for the grapes that the sheep ate with Pecorino cheese. Yes, Pecorino is a type of cheese. Another explanation is the shape of the grape bunches resembles a sheep's head.

One can imagine shepherds tending to the sheep and walking them by the vineyards.

Sheep Herding Abruzzo Wines

The story of how the grape got its name is intriguing however, what is interesting to me is the overall positive reaction this wine got from the attendees. Many of us immediately fell in love with the wines shared. It appears that Pecorino was forgotten until recently when it was revived by local winemakers. For sure Abruzzo's Pecorino Wines are amongst Italy’s hidden gems.

Abruzzo Wines, The Charming Taste of Europe © Spaswinefood

Where is Abruzzo?

Wine lovers will soon discover that Abruzzo, one of the oldest wine regions, is a mountainous coastal region on the Adriatic Sea. It is bordered by Molise to south, Marche to the north and Lazio to the west. This wine region is well worth a scenic two hour drive from Rome.

Abruzzo Wine Region, Italy © Spaswinefood

Abruzzo is a fascinating wine region. The Consortium for the Protection of Abruzzo Wines (Consorzio di Tutela dei Vini d’Abruzzo) was established in 2002. It protects wines from Controlled Designation of Origin, such as Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC, Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC, Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC, Abruzzo DOC, Villamagna DOC and, it also protects wines with a Typical Geographical Indication. It is a unique region in Europe. Abruzzo has more than 30% of the territory protected by four parks (three national and one regional), and a dozen nature reserves and protected areas.

Abruzzo DOC Pecorino Wines

Abruzzo viticulture in the last decades has made a leap forward in terms of qualitative growth.  This is due to a new generation of producers constant and pervasive work, focused on the enhancement of its most important indigenous grape varieties, like Pecorino. This clearly shows in the Abruzzo DOC Pecorino wines I tasted.

Abruzzo DOC Pecorino Wines © Spaswinefood

Tasting Abruzzo's Pecorino Wines

We tasted the following four Abruzzo DOC Pecorino wines:

1. Barone di Valforti, Abruzzo DOC Pecorino

Barone di Valforti, Abruzzo DOC Pecorino © Spaswinefood

US Importer: More Than Grapes LLC

2. Torre Dei Beati, Abruzzo DOC Pecorino

Torre Dei Beati, Abruzzo DOC Pecorino © Spaswinefood 

US Importer: Casa Bruno Wines

3. Agricosimo Pecorino Organic, Abruzzo DOC

Agricosimo Pecorino Organic, Abruzzo DOC © Spaswinefood

US Importer: Prosapore LLC

4. La Carine del Colle Aimé, Abruzzo DOC Pecorino Superiore 2020

La Carine del Colle Aimé, Abruzzo DOC Pecorino Superiore 2020 Abruzzo Wines

What delight it was to taste these Abruzzo DOC Pecorino wines. Abruzzo's Pecorino wines were a big hit at our session.

Tasting Abruzzo DOC Pecorino Wines © Spaswinefood

This session on Pecorino certainly inspired me and others at the session to make plans to visit Abruzzo. I was very pleased to have discovered these wines at the 2021 Wine Media Conference (#WMC2021). Indeed Pecorino is the wine to get to know! If you have yet to discover Abruzzo's Pecorino please do. You can connect with the Consorzio on Instagram and Facebook!  I invite you to join me in Italy and elsewhere in the sharing of these adventures at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon and at Spaswinefood  on  Twitter and Facebook. 

CHEERS!!

Sharon

August 2021

Eugene, Oregon

© Spaswinefood

The Charming Taste of Europe, Abruzzo Session #WMC21 © Spaswinefood

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NOTE: Abruzzo Wines is part of the mission of The Charming Taste of Europe, co-funded by the European Union. Its promotional activities are focused on increasing the awareness of the merits and quality standards of select European wines and fresh fruits in the competitive markets of the United States of America and Canada. The project includes promoting the Consortium for the Protection of Wines of Abruzzo. These superb high quality Italian wines are produced with the artistry of agricultural traditions. Hence this campaign will awaken the senses and a new culinary consciousness by connecting food, cultures, and territories by bringing European charm into the lives of many.