USA Wines

 

I had been quite surprised to pick up a magazine at the Bari Airport in Puglia enroute for Madrid this morning.

 

The Publication focused on 75 of the best wines in The USA, including wines from:

 

Idaho

Missouri

New York Finger Lakes

Pennsylvania

Texas

Virginia

California of course

Oregon of course

Washington State of course

Arizona

 

Have any of you taste tested the wines from Idaho ? Missouri ? New York Finger Lakes ?

Texas ? Virginia ? or Arizona ?

 

MENTIONED:

 

VIRGINIA: GRAPE VARIETY VIOGNER ... Improving and this aromatic white they suggest is:

Chrysalis Vineyards is among the best.

 

PENNSYLVANIA: Wine grapes are grown from Lake Erie in the northwest to the countryside of Philadelphia. They recommend their Cabernet Sauvgnion and the Viogner.

Chaddsford Miller Estate.

 

IDAHO:  Most of the Idaho state vineyards are located in the southwest region called Snake River. The majority of the grapes grown in this D.O. are white, however to date they have also been producing Syrah Reds. They recommend: Koenig Vineyards.

 

ARIZONA - SOUTHEAST CORNER ...

 

CALLAGHAN BUENA SUERTE is a Bordeaux style blend recommended and produced by Maynard Keenan, from the Rock Group, Tool.

 

TEXAS:

 

There are more than 150 local Micro wineries.

 

MISSOURI:

 

Some very fine wines are coming out of this state; including:  Hermannhof and Stone Hill. Wine dates back to the 1880s in Missouri.

 

ICONCLAST SOMMELIERS:

 

Peter Kasperski

 

Sean Tevik

 

Would enjoy hearing from those who have had some wines in these Designation of Origins.

 

Thanks,

Enjoy, Ciao.

Marge.

 

Pleased to hear that you have had the positive opportunity to sample & taste test a Riesling from NY´s Finger Lakes region.

 

I have an accomplished winemaker colleague I had met on another Forum, who makes his own wines in Minnesota; and he had recently been to Missouri´s wineries, and he raved about their Reds.

 

Of course, I have had excellent Reds and Whites from Washington State, Sonoma California & Napa Valley and Oregon too, as well as marvelous Ice Wines from Canada too.

 

However, I am pleased to have read this magazine on the flight to Madrid yesterday, on so many other states, producing wines.

 

Have you ever taste tested some Rieslings from Alsace ? France ? Germany ?

 

Is Riesling one of your favorite White Wines ?

 

What is your view on Chilean whites, Sauvignon Blanc ?  Chardonnay ? Spanish and Italian white wines ? French Burgundy whites ? 

 

What Reds are you veered towards ?

 

I am very fond of:

1) 100% Malbec Argentinian Reds

2) 100% Tempranillo Reds Ribera Del Duero, Valladolid, and Toro, Zamora Designation; Spain ( oak aged of course ); my faves are:  Dosmauros, Emilio Moro and Vega Sicilia.

3) Piemonte, Italian Barolo

4) Tuscan Sangiovese Reds

5) Abruzzi, Italian Reds

6) La Rioja 85% Tempranillo, 10% Cabernet & 5% Graciano or Garnacha Oak aged Reds

*** Bodega Murietta y Igay

*** Bodega Muga

*** Marqués de Cáceres

*** Lan

*** Roda  

7) SANGRE DE TORO ( THE BULL´s BLOOD ) by Miguel Torres is an excellent Red at a good price point, without flucuation in product. It is from the Penedès Region of Catalonia, and they also have wineries in Chile and Sonoma. I highly recommend it for OXTAIL ... AND STEWS.

8) I am very fond of Washington State reds and some chardonnays. Colombia Crest, I believe was one of the brands of Chardonnay we had enjoyed very much.

9) SONOMA WINES ( REDS ) and Santa Barbara Reds & Napa: I have had some lovely reds from these regions; Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon ... However, I personally prefer MONO varietals verses a blend varietal of various grapes.

 

My tastes are inclined towards: well rounded oak aged crianzas ( 3 years in Oak and then 3 in the bottle laying down ) and in whites; I like the Galician ALBARIÑO grape 100% from PAZO DE SENORANS which has merited in the Interntl. Wine Challenges. I also love Prosecco Sparkling Wines from the Veneto D.O. in Italia. Also, Portuguese whites, the Green Wines, however, they are a similiar variety to the Albariño in Galicia which is north of Portugal on the Iberian Peninsula.

 

Madrid has wineyards too ... And produce some stunning ecological wines which have won Interntl Wine Challenges. One is called: QUBEL ... Estrella, the owner of the winery is an absolute treasure to know. We had gone over to her winery which is about 35 km. from the centre of Madrid, two years ago, and she gave us a fab tour and tasting ... Super ... If you ever have the opportunity to taste QUBEL, do so ! It is a truly fine oak aged Cabernet Sauvignon. 

 

I hope it is QUBEL verses QUEBEL ... They have a bilingual website.   

 

 

And you ?

 

Look forward to discussing wines with you.

 

Have great wkend.

Ciao, Margi.