Zarate 2016 Balado Albariño Rias Baixas DO

View fullsize

Zarate 2016 Balado Albariño Rias Baixas DO ($48.99) with Hake Galician Style

A family-owned and operated winery in Spain’s coveted Rias Baixas DO in Galicia. Rias Baixas attained its appellation status in 1998 with less than 40 wineries in operation, but has grown to over 240 today. Albariño, an aromatic grape variety probably related to Riesling, thrives in the cool, wet, and sandy soils of Galicia. This pairing follows the tried and true “what grows together, goes together” approach: locals would most certainly be enjoying a similar meal. Depending on viticultural practices and the vintage, this grape can range from lean and tightly wound to broad and fleshy, but a core fruit profile of peach and apricot is typical. Expect this wine to show great body and weight on the palate, with lifted floral aromas. Drink 10-13 C.

Curator White

This white blend is made up of three grape varieties; Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Viognier. All the grapes are handpicked. Predominantly Chenin Blanc, this wine has great structure and a nice medium body, the chardonnay is fermented with natural yeast adding flavours of dried peaches, apricots and ripe citrus. The Viognier helps to add a bit of spice and complexity to the finish. Overall this wine is a wonderful food wine.

Served with Focaccia at April 2016 event

Some Young Punks 2014 Sauvignon Blanc Adelaide Hills, Australia

Some Young Punks' texture-rich, zingy Clare Riesling is sourced from 3 sites in the Valley (from north to south): Gully View and Milburn in Watervale and Mocandunda (next to Hanlin Hill), each lying around 440 metres above sea level with a vine age of 14-26 years. 

The winemaking takes in a mixture of whole bunch pressing (80%) and destemming and crushing prior to pressing, before fermentation in a mixture of stainless and neutral oak. A quarter of the wine is fermented with indigenous yeast. The finished wine is a refreshing Kabinett style with only 10.8% alcohol, a gentle 25g of residual and mouth-watering, crunchy acidity. Peach flesh with strong lime and lemon zest on the nose; the palate is saturated with clear, textured fruit - think the mouthwatering flesh of a ripe, cold Feijoa pear - and 2014's incisive, cleaning acidity draws the wine to a succinct close, making it seem a good deal drier than the figures suggest.

October 2015 paired with Green Beans

Chateau Megyer 2012 Tokaji Furmint, Hungary

Situated in the picturesque region of Tokaji-Hegyalja in northeastern Hungary, the  Megyer estate was classified as “First Growth” in 1772 by Royal decree. In 2002,  UNESCO classified the wine region of Tokaj as a ‘Historic Cultural Landscape’. Soils in the region are largely composed of igneous and sedimentary soils. Vines are  situated on exposed southwest facing slopes and the area enjoys a Continental  climate with cool mornings and hot days during the ripening season.The dry furmint  is aged for 8 months in stainless steel tanks to preserve the freshness of the wine  and to allow full mineral expression. Approximately 125,000 bottles are produced  each year. This wine is notable for its aromatic intensity. Fresh aromas and flavors of white flowers combine with pear, white peach, litchi and soft aromatic pepper.

October 2015 Event - Paired with Spanakopitakia

Callegaro Francesca 2013 Antichi Reassi Pinello Colli Euganei DOC, Italy

From a very small producer in Italy's Colli Euganei, this delightful wine is perfect for summer sipping. Made from the rare, indigenous Pinello grape, the Antichi Reassi is  full of apple, pear and white peach flavours. The gentle sparkling quality of this just  off-dry wine makes it a refreshing choice as an apertif or with lighter fare.

October 2015 Welcome Wine