With the exception of
“sparkling wine” (a/k/a “champagne”), I’ve never cared much
for wine before the last two years. Since I don’t care much for beer
either, I’d drink a token glass of wine at a party but otherwise I
did not consort much with the fermented juice of the vine.
That changed during a
2006 trip to Spain. In Barcelona, we lucked upon the annual
Catalan Wine Producers Festival, held on a slope above the harbor.
For only 6 Euros, we received an etched commemorative festival wine
glass and enough tickets to exchange for about 6 “full glass”
samples. We sipped wine and enjoyed dusk arriving over the harbor.
Since there were dozens of producers, each with at least a dozen
varieties, the selection was daunting. I focused on cava, the
Spanish sparkling wine. For my last glass, I decided to
experiment and sampled an appetizer/dessert Montroy from Pedro Masana
bodega which had a wonderful licorice aftertaste. I bought a bottle
for 5 Euros (about $7 then) to bring to Granada. My wife and I slowly
savored it each evening on our Granada apartment balcony while taking
in the lights of the Alhambra bell tower. (Alas, no Montroy to be
found in the U.S. but I have the bottle as a memento.)
While in Seville, we visited Jerez, heart of the “golden triangle”
of Spanish sherry production. At the Sandeman bodega, I discovered
that sherry is much more than the dessert wine that often makes an
appearance in movies, especially British ones.
Besides dessert sherry, there is Fino (pale, dry) and also a middle
variety called Amontillado (amber and with more body). These two
sherries were excellent with olives and Spanish potato chips (which
are more like the kettle chips here - thick, crispy and only a little
salt). I brought back a few bottles of both types and the wine gods
were with me because the sherry survived the Atlantic journey in my
checked suitcase. Fortunately, the Total
Wine warehouse in Jacksonville’s Town Center carries the
Sandeman and Osborne labels and since it’s just a short drive from
the St. Augustine / Orange Park I-295 / I-95 junction I can stock up
on sherry when visiting the Oldest City.
While visiting St. Augustine last year, we finally checked out the San
Sebastian winery just for something different to do. There,
I discovered a wonderful muscadine Vinter’s White and promptly split
a case with a friend to get their generous case discount. So now I’m
picking up 6-12 bottles of that as needed when in the Oldest City.
Then, while in Panama City a few months ago, we noticed Sea
Breeze winery and decided to sniff it out <g>.
There, I discovered a delicious Blueberry wine that had won an award
at the 2007 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition.
There was a discount on at least 6 bottles, so….
Finally, while in New Mexico in April, I happened upon La
Chiripada winery’s store in Taos plaza. After briefing the
wine advisor about my wine preferences (no reds, lighter, drier, and
not overly sweet) he led me to an excellent blush called Vino Sonrojo.
It won a silver medal at the 2006 New Mexico State Fair Wine
Competition. Normally $10, but there was a good case discount, so…
So… that explains why I have 25 bottles of wine in the house. Mostly
the aforementioned sherry, blueberry, muscadine and Sonrojo.
Typically, my wife and I sip a half-glass each Sunday through Thursday
evening before bed, and we finish off a bottle a week.
We’re getting low on the sherry and the muscadine. But we’re going
to St. Augustine for July 4th. So…
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What a great story. Really makes me want to go to Spain :) I
was thinking of replacing one of my five Deserted Island
foods with Pinot Grigio.
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