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Dixie and I have always enjoyed doing wine tastings. We have a nice little wine bar very close to our house that we go to quite often and we have visited many of the wineries within driving distance of our home including those on the Shawnee Wine Trail in southern Illinois.
So naturally our bucket list includes visiting the wineries in Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley in California. While not quite Napa or Sonoma, our latest experience was not only a tasting but also an educational experience on those very wines.
A Total Wine and More store recently opened a couple of miles from us and since it opened we have been trying to take advantage of the tasting classes they offer. We were finally able to get seats in one of their tasting classes and had a lot of fun tasting eight different Napa and Sonoma Valley wines and they even provided food. (Some great cheeses, salamis, sausages, veggies and even sweets.)
The tasting/class we attended was called California Uncorked – Napa Valley and Beyond.
The tasting room at our new Total Wine and More store is really nice. It’s in the back of the store set apart from the rest of the store. Since we have never been to another Total Wine and More store, we can only assume that the other stores offer the same kind of setting. It’s quiet. There are no distractions so you can really take in the wines and the lessons that are being presented.
We consider ourselves pretty experienced when it comes to tasting different wines, but we learned so much we were unaware of before this class, like how to really evaluate any wine in just a sip or two.
It’s really simple – just gently swirl the wine in your glass to show the contents and release the aromas that stimulate the senses. Then you have to sniff the wine. Get your nose in that glass and take short and long sniffs and try to discern the different smells. And finally swish the wine in your mouth to completely coat your palate. These three simple steps should make you decide if you like it and want another sip or glass or bottle or don’t.
As customers/students, we were then able to swallow the wine – the best part. The poor instructors were on the clock and had to actually spit the wine out.
So if you get a chance to attend a Total Wine and More tasting, we highly encourage you to do so. You won’t regret it. Have fun and drink some good wine. Life is too short not to.
These were the wines we tasted. The ratings are our personal opinion:
- Sauvignon Blanc Muirwood $14.99/90 points
Aroma: Pear
Flavors: Apple blossom, pear
4 Stars
- River Road Un-oaked Chardonnay $13.99/89 points
Aroma: Floral
Flavors: Green apple, grapefruit, spices
5 Stars
- 69 Miles Chardonnay $19.99
Aroma: Vanilla
Flavors: Oak, citrus, tropical, vanilla
4 Stars
- Olema Pinot Noir $19.99/92 points
Aromas: Strawberries
Flavors:Cherry, spice
4 Stars
- Josh Family Reserve Red Blend $15.99
Aromas: Vanilla
Flavors: Blackberry, plum, vanilla
4 Stars
- Hunted Lodi Zinfandel $13.99/86 points
Aromas: Pepper
Flavors: Jammy fruit, black pepper, exotic spices
5 Stars
- Silver Ghost Cabernet Sauvignon $35.99/93 points
Aromas: Plum, cherry
Flavors: Dark berry, espresso, plum
4 Stars
Hologram Cabernet Sauvignon $27.99
Aromas: Black licorice
Flavors: Black Cherry, herbs, spice
3 Stars
Thanks for reading.
Paul
