Summer, Sea and Savor - Sipping by the Shore!

For our latest semi-regular wine and food event, friends gathered down the shore recently to sample some delightful summer wines - mostly white, plus a fabulous red from Greece, and a special blue bubbly courtesy of friends who had attended my previous back yard bash, which you will see in the first photo below.  It's called a "Blanc de Bleu" (White from Blue), hails from California and is available at Pennsylvania State Stores.  It's a "Brut" so it's nice and dry and was a definite crowd pleaser, even if the color does remind one of Scope mouthwash! (The blue shade comes from a little blueberry juice which is added to the wine for both color and taste.)

The Greek red, "Agiorgitiko", knocked everyone's socks off (or would have if we were wearing any!) and the "Assyrtiko" was the clear winner among the whites. And I loved the description by one of our astute imbibers who quipped: "Tastes like Sauvignon Blanc on steroids". Indeed!

The Agiorgitiko was about $23 in PA, and the other wines, purchased at Wine Works in Cherry Hill, NJ, were in the $15-20 range.  The Quinta da Garrida Branco was perhaps a little too oaky for most of us, but would be a nice alternative for those who enjoy oaked Chardonnays.

And I can never say enough about the Godeval Godello - definitely one of my all-time favorite whites!

Cheers!

           

            

1. Boutari Moschofilero 2015

Varietal: 100% Moschofilero (pink-skinned grape)

Classification/Region: Mantinia P.D.O (Protected Designation of Origin), Greece

Production/Tasting Notes: Richly textured and structured with concentrated grapefruit, ripe citrus and white plum flavors; notes of savory and dried spice; long, juicy finish (90 points, Wine Spectator, “Smart Buy”)

                   

Food pairings: aperitif; Mediterranean, Middle Eastern cuisines

11 % Alcohol

2. Domaine Sigalas Santorini Assyrtiko 2015

                 

                    

Varietal: 100% Assyrtiko

Classification/Region: Santorini P.D.O, Greece

Production/Tasting Notes: Fermentation in stainless steel tanks; 60 year old vines; initially notes of tart lemons, ocean air, chalky stone which soften into honeyed exotic fruit tones

Food pairings: kebabs; salad, chicken, fish

14 % Alcohol

3. Quinta da Garrida Branco (White) 2013

               

Varietal: Mainly Encruzado

Classification: Dao Denominacao de Origem Controlada (D.O.C.), Portugal

Production/Tasting Notes: 40% aged in French oak barrels; creamy wood-aged wine; elegant and aromatic; flavors range from red apples to lemon to a touch of pineapple; ripe yet fresh; round finish with wood hints. (90 points, Wine Enthusiast, “ Best Buy”)

13.5% Alcohol

4. Bodegas Godeval Cepas Vellas 2013

                    

Varietal: 100% Godello

Classification: Valdeorras D.O. (Denominacion de Origen) Spain

Production/Tasting Notes: "Alluring white that covers a broad range of flavors in a pillowy texture, while crisp, well-integrated acidity maintains the focus; melon, coconut, spice and smoke flavors mingle harmoniously on the plus palate; mineral element is fresh and long." (92 pts. Wine Spectator; No. 36 on the Top 100 Wines for 2015)

14.5% Alcohol

5. Gaia Agiorgitiko  2014

                   

Varietals: 100% Agiorgitiko

Classification: Nemea P.D.O., Greece

Production/Tasting Notes: Deep, rich, complex yet fully approachable; intense ripe fruit aromas; juicy plum flavors mixed with spicy oak and pleasant earthiness; can be aged 2-4 years. 

Food Pairings: dolmades; red meat dishes that are rich, intense and spicy

14% Alcohol

Factoids about Greek and Mediterranean Wines

• Agiorgitiko, also known as St. George, is Greece's most famous red variety.
• Red wines from the Nemea region have been produced for over 2500 years and are sometimes known as the “blood of Hercules” giving him the strength to slay the Lion of Nemea.
• Roditis stems from the Greek word “rodon” meaning rose.
• Legend has it that Caesar wooed Cleopatra with the white wines of Patras
• Greece was likely the first homeland of the wine-making grape Vitis vinifera
• When Greece because part of the Byzantine Empire in the 11^th century, its status as a wine producer declined substantially due to tax regulations which favored Italian city-states
• There are about 30 wine “appellations” throughout Greece and French terms are often seen on wine labels.

Other Greek Grape Varietals

Whites

SAVATIANO – Greece's most widely planted white varietal and the base for the popular Retsina wine which is infused with pine resin; the best Retsinas are produced from Savatiano grown in Attica

VILANA – Native to the island of Crete, produces modestly priced refreshing white wines with green-apple flavors.

Reds

LIMNIO – Grown on the Aegean island of Limnos and throughout northern Greece; produces full-bodied wines with high alcohol content; often blended with merlot and cabernet sauvignon

 MAVRODAPHNE – Meaning “black laurel”, this grape flourishes in Patros and is blended with Korinthiaki to produce dessert wines

XINOMAVRO (“acid black”) - Dominate northern Greek red varietal; produces full-bodied reds with intense fruit flavors and can be aged for many years.

 Wine Quote: The wine urges me on, the bewitching wine, which sets even a wise man to singing and to laughing gently and rouses him up to dance and brings forth words which were better unspoken.
Homer
The Odyssey, bk. XIV, l. 463

Backporch Bubbly Boosts Boisterous But Benevolent Bash!

Anytime is a good time for fine fizzy fermented fruit of the wine, but especially in the summertime when ice-chilled bubby can take the edge off sweltering temps and humidity!

And so, the theme of this year's wine party at yours truly was Sparkling Wine - be it Champagne, Cava or Prosecco or some other frizzante.  Although bubbly is generally associated with special events - weddings, graduations, promotions, etc, - the truth is that they are also great wines to accompany food since they pair with so many types of dishes, and you don't have to spend big bucks on high-end Champagne to enjoy festive fizz with a meal.  Cavas and Proseccos are especially good deals, and not surprisingly, most of this summer's contributions were indeed from Spain and Italy.  Even so, a few generous attendees graced us with some very fine Champagne.

The first of two successive (and successful) parties was held on the last Saturday in July which turned out to be a somewhat soupy and warm evening.  We had a bit of a respite from temps in the mid-90s, but the high humidity and occasional showers made it feel quite sticky.  Nonetheless, the inclement weather did not keep people away from their appointed destiny - to share good wine, food and company.

A few weeks later, a "Sparkling Wine Redux" was held so that those who missed the first gathering could join in on the festivities.  This time it was even hotter, but at least it was dry, and by mid-evening, it had cooled off a tad so that we could all congregate on the back porch.

Thanks to all who braved the meteorological hurdles and brought lots of fine bubbly to share among friends, old and new.  Visual documentation of most of the bottles downed along with partiers follows below. 

See you next summer!


                                          

                              
                           

                



                                        


                                       


                                     

                                      
                                      


                               




            
                                   




                          
           

Direct Wine Shipments to Pennsylvania.....?? R U Kidding Me? Read on.... about Naked Wines and their shipments to the Keystone State!

Yes, there is a God!

Or at least there is a God of Wine, known variously as Bacchus or Dionysus, who has seen fit at last to grant long-suffering Pennsylvanians the legal right to order wine directly from out of state and have it sent to their local State Store, or in some cases, directly to their homes.

Pennsylvania imbibers have chafed for decades under the antiquated, communist-style State monopoly known as the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) which has done its level, bureaucratic best to stifle, frustrate and enrage consumers of beer, wine and spirits with lackluster service, poor selection and an embargo against purchasing booze from out of state either in person or by shipment.

At a speed that would give even glaciers an edge, the LCB has, in fact, over recent years, been making changes to the system in an effort to actually serve its customers better.  Many stores have been remodeled and upgraded (though most with the same uninspiring selections); employees have been trained to treat customers as, well, customers as opposed to annoyances disrupting their confabulations with fellow workers  (although recent experiences have demonstrated the need for retraining); specialty shops do feature expanded selections of quality, distinguished wines with knowledgeable and even expert sales persons;  AND NOW.... drum roll, please .....

It's possible to order wine online from out of state and have it delivered to your nearest Liquor store!

I first availed myself of this service early this year when I signed up for a trial order from nakedwines.com which I highly recommend, but first let's talk logistics.  Naked Wines is a direct mail order wine service that has registered with the PLCB to be able to ship wine to its customers via State Store locations.  Naked Wines operates a little differently from other wine clubs: When you sign up for a trial, they immediately give you $100 credit to play with. The catch is that you have to order at least $160 worth of wine, but it's still a great deal.  Upon placing the order, you just have it shipped to your nearest Liquor store (there's nominal $5 fee that's included in the order that goes to the PLCB), the store notifies you when the order has arrived, you sign for it with an ID and take it home. Simple as that!  I have to say I was flabbergasted at how easy it was! The only slight snafu was that not every State Store can accept deliveries, so you might have to enter an alternative  location when placing the order.

Now more about Naked Wines, their inventory of wines and wine producers, and how it works.  If you decid to join after the trial purchase, you're put on a waiting list to become a member or "Angel" as that call it.  You may have to wait a few months to become a member as there is a long queue.  In the meantime, you can enjoy your first shipment.

Once you become a member, they debit your credit card in advance for $40 (or more) per month and you can order any time you want.  Paying up front allows Naked Wines to support and invest in small, high quality independent wine growers from around the world. Prices for members are significantly discounted from their normal retail prices. So far I've enjoyed wines from Spain, Italy, France, California, New Zeland and S. America.  I've been very impressed with almost all the wines I've ordered from Naked Wines. And, if you're not satisfied for any reason, you can get credit for any bottle you're pleased with, and you can cancel your membership anytime.  So far, I've taken for credit for just one bottle I wasn't crazy about.

One more tip: to get free shipping, you have to order at least $100 worth of wine, so I just wait till I have sufficient credit built up to place an order.

And one more perk: when you order a case, they always include a free promotional bottle from a winemaker that's currently being featured!

See below for some of the wines I've ordered and enjoyed:

 



Virgile Joly Merlot 2015
$9.99 - Add







Lay of the Land Marlborough Pinot Noir 2015
$14.99 - Add

 



Benjamin Darnault Viognier 2015
$10.49 - Add 


 



Benjamin Darnault Pique Nique Rose 2015
$9.99 - Add

 



Keith Hock Central Coast Rose 2015
$12.99 - Add


 



Carlos Rodriguez Albamisa Albarino 2014
 






Rachis by Randy Hester Sauvignon Blanc Lodi 2015
$11.99 - Add


 


Scott Kelley Pinot Gris Willamette 2015 


 



Kimbao Sauvignon Blanc 2015
$8.99 - Add









Cordero Langhe DOC Arneis 2014
$10.49 - Add


 




Virgile Joly Ventoux 2014


 




Karen Birmingham Petite Sirah Clarksburg 2014


Lastly, do let me know if you sign up.  You won't be disappointed!


P.S. I get no compensation for this endorsement :), although they were running a promotion last month for members who signed up friends, but I missed the deadline.