Sauv Blanc with Jalapenos and Lemons

Have you ever picked up a bottle of wine and read the back of the bottle and the winemaker tells you all about how the wine tastes like a warm Sunday afternoon spent in a field of lilacs with your lover while eating rhubarb-cherry pie fresh from the oven. BOOGERS and HOGWASH!!! I hate those descriptions. This is why I should write the descriptions for wines that I try. Have fun with this wine because I know I did.

Bellingham Sauvignon Blanc 2008, South Africa ($12)
Close your eyes. "Imagine what a Jalapeno swimming in a pool of lemon and lime juices smells like." BAM you got the nose for this wine! That is exactly what this wine smells like with just a hint of a grassy herbaceousness but not as much as a New Zealand Sauv Blanc. "Now take the lemon/lime Jalapeno concoction and make a mojito out of it but substitute the mint for grass. Serve over ice and enjoy!" BAM this is what the wine taste like! The reason I am so excited is this is the first time I have tasted Jalapeno in a wine. If you don't like spicy don't worry, what you taste in the wine is the flavor of the Jalapeno without the heat. Perfect mix of Bright Citrus, Herbaceousness, Jalapeno, Balanced Acidity and just a hint of Stony Minerality on the finish. Try with Spicy Thai food to combat the heat. Also try if you are tired of New Zealand Sauv lanc. Solid 89pts

Chicken Stir-fry, South African Sauv Blanc & The Wii

I know some crazy combinations for the food and wines. The foodies and wine critics wold probably slap me on the wrist if they knew what we were doing. You have to jump out and try something new every once in awhile. Drink what you love We just got the new Wii Resort game so i made some chicken stir-fry with coconut rice and popped a bottle of South African Sauv Blanc. Yummy! And the stir-fry wasn't bad either.


2008 Boschendal Sauvignon Blanc ($13)
Megan got stone fruit on the nose. Stone fruit is a fruit that has a pit like peaches, plums, & apricots. I got fresh pineapple and grass. I got pineapple on the palate along with green apple, lime, and a mouth feel of honey and minerals with just a hint of grass. I say honey because you do pick up some sweetness in the wine but most of that comes from the warm climate and fresh fruit flavors of the wine. It's like eating honey then 30 seconds later you can still taste the honey. Megan got pineapple and floral notes on the palate with a citrus finish. Great alternative to New Zealand Sauv Blanc for $5 less. Delicious! 89pts

Cuban Food & Austrian Wine Perfect Match

Megan had her friend, Kirsten, in town Saturday night for the Ravens v Colts game (sorry babe). This was the Kirsten's first time to Richmond so we wanted to take her to one of our favorite restaurants, Kuba Kuba . We all split Empanadas (one beef & one spinach), Pork Shank, Grilled Salmon with Coconut Risotto Fritters. This wine I have had before in Chicago and loved it there so wanted to give it a shot with the Cuba fare.

2007 Loimer Gruner Veltliner "Lois"

I love the package for this wine. It screams SPRING! I'm ready for some warm weather. Gruner Veltliner (GROO-ner VELT-lie-ner) is an Austrian grape that is very similar to Sauv Blanc & Pinot Gris. Lois had a very zesty lemon, lime & spiciness on the nose. The lime really came through on the palate along with green apple and finished with great acidity and mineral notes. I love minerally white wines. I know that's not a word. I'm tired of oak in my whites. It coves up the fruit. Grapes are a fruit so therefore you should taste fruit in the wine first then the oak! Love this wine and can't wait til the summer to drink more in the hammock. 90pts

New Direction for VAWINO Blog

Wow it takes me a long time to post things. Don't worry I am still drinking plenty of wine. But I am going to change things up a little bit. Instead of boring everone with info that you probably don't want I'm going to just give you a brief rundown of the wines that I'm drinking. I'll throw in a few words of history and why I'm drinking certain wines. Then I'll finish with a score from 1-100pts just like the experts. Then you as the consumer can run out to try these wines and then post your feedback on the site. 90% of the wines you will be able to get at my Kroger or special order from any other Kroger. Let's get into the first wine.



2008 Campante Spanish White "Vina Reboreda" $11

I'm a wine geek. I'm sure you all know that. But I love trying new wines from different places. The past few weeks I have been trying wines made from grapes I have never heard of like this wines made from 40% Treixadura(Never heard of), 20% Godello (one of the oldest Spanish grapes), 20% Torrontes (staple in Argentina), 20% Palomino (never heard of).



First impression of this wine SUCKED. No nose. Watery. Lemon and Lime Water. Finished way to quick. But as the wine began to warm up in the glass I started to smell white flowers and peaches. The palate was still very light but I found out why, only 11% Alcohol. But notes of peaches and minerals came through. Americans as a rule have served their WHITES TOO COLD and their REDS TOO WARM. Put your reds in the fridge for 5 mins before serving and pull the whites out of the fridge for 5mins before serving. Serving temp for Reds: 60F Whites: 45F. Great wine for a cocktail party. Pinot Gris drinks will love this wine. 86pts



Tell me what you guys think??