Fire Department Appreciation Wine Dinner
Fun , Food, and Josh Wines
Hello friends,
I hope you all enjoyed last night’s Wine Dinner. It sure was nice to see everyone enjoying the fellowship and conviviality that many people recognize as characteristic and expect of such wine dinners. As I mentioned to you last night, I am embarking upon a new pursuit- to learn about wine so I can understand and recognize the joys cherished by sophisticated wine aficionados. To that end I have started writing a blog called the Middle Shelf- Live Life Like Fine Wine.
Do you remember ever hearing a teacher or mentor say If you really want to know a subject well, you should teach or tutor your peer, or classmate?
I am learning about oenology and about wine culture. There will be many lessons to learn along the way... AND no quizzes or tests. I am not an expert. I am writing this blog to share with you the fascinating things I am learning in this process. I invite you to join me in this journey. Whether you are a novice just like me, or a master sommelier, I invite you to participate in this blog. If you choose to “tune-in”, I ask that you maintain: a respectful decorum for the subject matter,-WINE; and, a professional courtesy to others in this forum.
So, let’s talk about last night’s wine dinner. The featured wines come from Josh Cellars, a vineyard in Napa, California. We featured four wines, each paired intentionally with the foods on the menu. To give credit where credit is due, I selected the pairings according to the recommendations on the Josh website, the exception was the Bourbon Barrel Reserve Cabernet that I guessed would pair nicely with the homemade chocolate ice cream.
How well did the chocolate ice cream pair up with the bourbon barrel cabernet?
Arriving we started with Josh Prosecco. To mention Prosecco, it is fitting to say spumante , sparkling. Suffice it to say that the sparkling bubbles of Prosecco, while similar to champagne, are not the same. They are two different processes for creating the fizziness.
What I love about Prosecco is it brings Italy to us. Huh?. Geeky detail: According to Mr. Kevin Zraly, in his book Windows on the World Complete Wine Course (p. 289) Prosecco “can be made only in Veneto and a small part of the Friuli- Venezia Giulia region.” That’s the northeast region of Italy. It is acceptable to use Prosecco in cocktails. Kim at insanelygoodrecipes.com shares with us 23 Prosecco cocktails and Mr Kevin Zraly even encourages his readers to try it in a cocktail., for example a Bellini.
Prosecco bearing the Josh Cellars label has only been around since 2019 when Joseph Carr partnered with the Pozzi family. I’ll have to look more closely at the provenance of the Italian grapes used in this prosecco, since I read that the Pozzi family vineyards are in Sicily. So, do they import the Glera, the grape used to make prosecco, from Northeast Italy to process in Sicily? Regardless, I love that Josh has added Prosecco to their wine offerings. At our event, we drank the plain Prosecco, and not the Rosé.
The Prosecco was paired with the sweet pea bruschetta with parmesan and mint on crostinis. You might have noticed flavors of green apple, pear, and citrus with a touch of sweetness in the aroma or taste of the Prosecco.
Thank you to the Josh and the Pozzi Family for making this Prosecco.
Each of you selected a slip of paper from a bowl. On each slip of paper was a quote of gratitude for firefighters and first responders, in general. You were invited to add it to our collage of gratitude from all the members of our Useppa Island Community. It is with that great sense of gratitude that we gathered to celebrate last night.
At each of the four tables were the other 3 bottles of wine for this epicurean flight: pinot noir vintage 2020, Cabernet 2020, Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon 2020.
I’m referencing the labels for the descriptions of flavors.
The Pinot Noir is said to be elegant and refined. Some may detect flavors of cherry, strawberry and an aroma of lightly toasted oak. There will be many more conversations about Pinot noir so at this early stage of the journey, I’m content with learning that pinot noir grape originated on vines in Burgundy, France and were imported to North America in the early years of America’s wine history. The grape is thin-skinned and vulnerable to disease and too much sunlight. I was listening for the “sound of a church bell in the mountains” as Ms. Karen MacNeil describes the sense of beauty and precision of some California pinot noirs. P. 687.
The cabernet sauvignon was the first wine for Josh and has become an award-wininng cab. Described as round and juicy, it has flavors of blackberry, toasted hazelnut, and cinnamon.
Cabernet is one of the most tannic of all the major red grapes. The satisfaction found in these cabernet grapes is attributed to the unique climate in California which draws in the cool ocean air in through the San Francisco Bay and northward through Carneros and into Napa where it takes the edge off the heat.
I don’t know about the vinification, wine production process, at Josh Cellars. I don’t know if those are proprietary trade secrets or how that conversation goes among vintners.
The wine dinner was a grand time. Thank you for taking the survey,I'll post a blog in the next few days summarizing the survey results. Moreover, I’m happy you visited this blog about the start of this journey into the world of wine.
Wine Dinner Survey Summary
1) “Do you prefer, or have a favorite type of wine? (Not necessarily of the Josh wines served)
Ia) Cabernet Sauvignon
b) Sauvignon Blanc
c) Merlot
d) Pinot Noir
e) Red Blend
f) Chardonnay
g) Rosé
h) Other __N/A____; Cabernet Franc_____________
Pinot Noir claimed first place as the most preferred; Cabernet Sauvignon and Red blends tied for second place. Two respondents explained that they were not wine drinkers. Another outlier among respondents, a seasoned oenophile, brought to my attention that I had forgotten to include Cabernet Franc to the choices- He answered “h) other”. Clearly my list of choices was abbreviated. Chardonnay and Rosé had one each who claimed them as favorites. f customers can’t find it, it doesn’t exist. Clearly list and describe the services you offer. Also, be sure to showcase a premium service.
2) Have you ever been to a vineyard? If so, where, which one?
Eleven of the 15 respondents reported that they have visited a vineyard, some named them. Here’s the list:
Florida Orange Grove Winery, St Petersburg, Fl
San Sebastian Winery, St Augustine, FL
Somewhere in New York
Finger Lakes
Bassi Vineyards in 1975 & and many Virginia Vineyards
All over Napa, Sonoma, Carneros, Okanagan Valley, BC, Niagara, Ontario
San Francisco & Minnesota (no vineyards specified)
And, there were a few respondents who have never visited a vineyard.
3) Are you a member of a wine club?
Ten of 15, 67% % reported having “no” membership in a wine club. A few attendees, clearly the seasoned oenophiles, hold memberships in several wine clubs, including wine.com, Splash, and Silver Trident. The wine club with resounding popularity among this crowd is Copper’s Hawk. one of which I had never heard. For me, this was the most interesting feedback I received from this survey, and it has piqued my interest in this winery.
4) How do you regularly shop for wine? (on-line, grocery store, liquor store, other….)
The grocery store (1st) and liquor store (2nd) are the most common retailers for these consumers. Two respondents specified Total Wine as their retailer. Several answered that they shop from grocery, liquor store AND online vendors. One gentleman was very enthusiastic about his usage and satisfaction with using thevivino app.
5)Have you ever or do you often attend wine tastings or wine dinners?
8 of 15 respondents, 53% answered “no”.
6). What is the average price-point for wine that you are comfortable paying?
When asked about the average price range folks are comfortable spending on a bottle of wine, responses ranged from less than $10 to $30. One response I appreciated offered more specificity, $30 for everyday wine, $50 for wine going into the cellar was the comfortable range.
7) Do you ever select a wine because you like the label or because it has a “cool” name?
Six respondents answered “yes.”, one of them specified the label art as influential. Seven respondents answered “no”. And, my regular outlier commented “he chooses based on reviews.” On the one hand, one of the “no’s”. exclaimed “never, BAD IDEA”.; on the other hand, one said she had done so, but was “too embarrassed to admit it.” It’s nothing to be ashamed of, in my humble opinion. I confess that I have purchased wine because I was attracted to the label art or name AND some of them have become my favorites. There must be a story about wine bottle labeling and label art.
How to begin?
Starting somewhere. Où est le vin Bourgogne?
As I have mentioned above, my objective is to learn about wine and fascinating things of the world of wine. To this end, I am following the material outlined in the Introductory Sommelier Course 2019 Workbook from the Court of Master Sommeliers Americas and supplementing with Karen MacNeil’s The Wine Bible and Kevin Zraly’s Windows on the World Complete Wine Course.
I suppose there are many paths one might follow to learn about wine, primarily guided by one’s own motivations and tastes. For example, if one suffers from Francophile tendencies, as I do, the French wines may hold greater interest than the wines from South America. France and its enormous contribution to the world of wine is where I choose to begin. France has six major wine regions: Champagne, east-northeast of Paris; Alsace, east-southeast of Paris; Burgundy south-southeast of Paris; Rhone valley, south of Burgundy; Bordeaux in southwest France; and Loire Valley coursing along the Loire River westward from central France south of Paris.
The manner in which Burgundian vintners label their wines is systematic and somewhat confusing. Some of the confusion arises from its long history of winemaking and how possession of vineyards has changed hands, either from wars or through inheritance from one generation to another. In my next post I will attempt to explain some of the historical moments which have shaped the viticulture of France. After that it will be a deep dive into the Burgundy region of France which holds notoriety for producing some of the finest wines in the world. Until then, I leave you with The Soul of Wine by the Parisian poet Charles Baudelaire which I found at vin-satori.com. and this more humorous verse by Hilaire Belloc. nunc bibendum est (now's the time to drink.) A little charcuterie, a glass of Bourgogne and Comté. Salut!
Learn More
My jolly fat host with your face all a-grin,
Come, open the door to us, let us come in.
A score of stout fellows who think it no sin
If they toast till they're hoarse, and drink till they spin,
Hoofed it amain
Rain or no rain,
To crack your old jokes, and your bottle to drain.
Such a warmth in the belly that nectar begets
As soon as his guts with its humour he wets,
The miser his gold, and the student his debts,
And the beggar his rags and his hunger forgets.
For there's never a wine
Like this tipple of thine
From the great hill of Nuits to the River of Rhine.
Outside you may hear the great gusts as they go
By Foy, by Duerne, and the hills of Lerraulx,
But the rain he may rain, and the wind he may blow,
If the Devil's above there's good liquor below.
So it abound,
Pass it around,
Burgundy's Burgundy all the year round.
Importance of Terroir
Who cares about a wine label?
The place where grapes have grown and where the wines have been made is of significant importance in the wine industry. And, labeling laws exist to inform the consumer of the wine’s origins. Whether a wine comes from pinot noir grapes grown and vinified in Napa Valley, California or from a European vineyard, or from grapes grown in one region and shipped to another location for blending with other grape varietals and ultimately vinified, ultimately oenophiles want to know the origins of the wines they are drinking. Why does it matter? Wine is wine, right? Wrong. The quality of wines depends to a great extent on the location where the grapevines are grown. Soil characteristics, climate, and sun exposure factor together to grow the vines bearing grapes.
What the Cistercian monks noticed at the end of the 11th century was that grapes of the same variety grown in different parts of the very same vineyard sometimes tasted differently. After closer observation and study, the monks, determined that there was a correlation between the different tastes of grapes and the soils in which they grew. Having identified the significant effect that terroir and sun exposure contribute to the quality of the grapes, the monks kept these factors in mind as they continued cultivating the vineyards. Resulting from their mindful cultivation practices, there developed among the Burgundian wine makers a classification system for the wines produced based on terroir which emphasized the specific location of the vineyards.
Because the origins of the grapes and the location of the vineyards is so important to the quality of the wine produced, labeling guidelines have been established to convey accurate information to the consumers. To that end regulatory agencies exist that set forth and enforce the labeling laws. In the United States the Alcohol, Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau regulates the wine industry. The French counterpart is L’Institut de l’origine et de la qualité. Both entities hold jurisdiction to enforce compliance with regulations that prevent fraudulent wine trade- primarily that which occurs by misrepresenting the place of origin and the production of a wine. At times in history, wine fraud has been a prolific problem. In the US, the wine industry uses the term American Viticultural Area (AVA) to identify specific regions registered with the Federal government; similarly, throughout the European Union, L’ Appelation d’origine Protegeé (AOP) aims to achieve uniform standards of identifying the origins and production of wine. Wineries label their wines’ AOCs/AVAs according to the guidelines established by their governing entity which, in turn informs the consumer of the wine’s grape variety, place of origin, and year of production.
Middle Shelf late June 2023
Not so mundane Mondavi
Virginia Vineyard Surprise
Average Joe Grilling Wine
Robert Mondavi Barrel Aged Red Blend 2019. Online one can find this priced generally in the $15.99- $19.99 range depending on the retailer. I have found this tasty California red blend from Monterey to be smooth, and deep with rich flavor. At Food Lion, it was priced at $14.99 but available for $13.99 if you register for the Food Lion frequent shopper program.
Average Joe Grilling Wine
Virginia Vineyard Surprise
Average Joe Grilling Wine
Josh Cellars Legacy Red Blend 202. I have found this red blend at Food Lion for $12.99, in contrast to the $17.99 as priced on the Josh Cellars website. The Food Lion retail price is less expensive than the Josh Wine Club members price of $14.39. As Josh Cellars makes not of this wine, it pairs well with BBQ ribs, leg of lamb, and grilled skirt steak- a reliable red blend to pair off with your summertime grilling fun.
Virginia Vineyard Surprise
Virginia Vineyard Surprise
Young fun Vineyard in Virginia
Chateau Morisette mostly known in Virgina for its labels with amusing dog caricatures has been a delightful find. I found a bottle of The Black Dog, their red wine blend for $13.00 at Food Lion. For the price, I don’t think you would be disappointed-just don’t expect it to be the finest wine you have ever tried. It does not express the complex structure of the prestigious reds of Napa, however it paired nicely with the charcuterie board the other evening. I will buy it again.
Young fun Vineyard in Virginia
Fantastic French Burgundy in the US
Young fun Vineyard in Virginia
I stopped in to the Zoll Vineyards tasting room yesterday in Dutton, Virginia. They have a modest sized winery of 16.5 acres. It is Gloucester’s 1st Winery. I ordered the Petit Verdot to pair with the cheese and bread board they have on their menu. The petit Verdot’s flavors improved once it had a few minutes to breathe and proved to be a delightful red for a Sunday afternoon. I chose also to sample their Cabernet Franc and their Mariners Blend and found that I preferred the Cabernet Franc to the other. Overall, my favorite was the Petit Verdot. The tasting room menu has tempting desserts as well as several creative sangria blends. The pickle pimento cheese spread was the best, we ordered an additional serving because we loved it so much. Their farm-to-table kitchen offers several dishes that I look forward to trying on my next visit- the Crab cake and the Garden Artichoke Spread.
Fantastic French Burgundy in the US
Fantastic French Burgundy in the US
Fantastic French Burgundy in the US
Although the Maison Louis Jadot wines typically retail just a bit higher than the average “middle shelf”: wines on my blog, I want to express my enthusiasm for the wines of the Maison Louis Jadot label. Louis Jadot hails from Burgundy, France where their vineyards have been held in high esteem since 1849. Monsieur Jadot emigrated from Belgium to Beaune, France where he purchased some vineyards and devoted the rest of his life to growing Burgundian wines. Of his 528 acres of vineyards, 280 acres are the most prestigious Premier and Grand Cru plots of the Côte d’Or. So, I was excited and happy to see a selection of wines bearing the Louis Jadot label at the Publix in Williamsburg, VA. Although the wines I found there were neither Premier nor Grand Cru, they still represent the exceptional craftsmanship of one of the finest Burgundian Vintners. One can find a Beaujolais-Villages, Pinot Noir, a Pouilly- Fuissé, and Chardonnay at some Publix retail wine departments with prices south of $40.00. I have found a Rosé for $14.39; a Chardonnay for $16.49; a Beaujolais-Villages for $13.69; and a Pinot Noir for $21.49. (continue next column)
Magnifique for the price
Fantastic French Burgundy in the US
Fantastic French Burgundy in the US
(cont'd)... I enjoyed them immensely and believe that these bottles imported from France in no way compromise the quality but only reflect the devotion that Maison Louis Jadot exacts in their winemaking both in Burgundy and in Oregon. What? Oregon? Yes. Though under the name of Resonance. Jacques Lardière who retired from Maison Louis Jadot after 42 years as leading winemaker, set out on a new project and bought a vineyard in Oregon where he continue smaking wine in the Burgundy tradition but adds “accent marks to represent this small but special connection between Oregon and France.”
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