Wine Life - Houston

Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser moderated an Alto Adige winery panel last week in Houston with speakers Armin Gratl of Cantina Valle Isarco, Andi Punter of Franz Haas and Kathrin Werth of Muri-Gries Wine Estate and Monastery Cellar. These are my notes from the "Alto Adige: Taste Italian Wines at Their Peak" seminar and tasting. The Wines: The first two hail from Italy's northernmost wine growing zone, Valle Isarco, which is home to 860 acres of vineyards set at steep elevations of 1312 to 3117 feet, they are densely planted and terraced. The mica schist and sandy gravel soils of the area add a mineral component to the wines while the Alpine influence enhances the purity. White wine makes of 95% of production, Muller Thurgau and Gewürztraminer are important grapes along with Sylvaner and Kerner. Alto Adige Valle Isarco Sylvaner DOC  Aristos 2015 by Cantina Valle Isarco -  Lively aromas and flavors of melon and apricot with a distinct mineralty that Gaiser called ...

Sample of the week - Beast Columbia Valley Wildebeest Red Wine 2010 Smooth and juicy with ripe raspberry aromas and flavors with a touch of dried herbs and a bit of a savory note in the fruit-filled finish. Fresh, succulent and delicious! 14% ABV This red wine comes from the Columbia Valley in Washington state. It is a blend of 77% Syrah, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc. Delicious with hamburgers fresh off the grill. Highly recommended, approximately $30. Media Sample.

Happy Earth Day! Celebrate this year by Rosé-ing all day with  Natura Rosé 2016   sourced from Chile's Rapel Valley. This refreshing blend of organically grown Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is fresh and easy-going with bright cherry/berry aromas and flavors and a gravelly mineral note in the lingering fruity finish. Tasty with a variety of menu items from sushi to mild cheeses, it is also easy to enjoy alone as an aperitif. With it's only 12% ABV, it makes an excellent patio sipper. Light, pleasant, delicious and priced at only $10 a bottle , it is highly recommended as the perfect organic wine to Rosé with now and on through the summer! *Media Sample

The  Dreaming Tree Crush California Red Blend 2014  is the sample of the week.  Jammy berry flavors invite you back for another sip of this easy drinking red blend; soft, smooth and welcoming.  Affordably priced at $15 and with a moderate 13.7% ABV,  I like it for Sunday afternoon with the extended family. Delicious with pasta with spicy red sauce or barbecue. A product of a partnership between musician, Dave Matthews, and winemaker, Sean McKenzie, this sustainably-made wine was created to showcase the beauty and ease of life in California wine country. It is a blend of 64% Merlot, 20% Petite Sirah, 13% Zinfandel and 3% other grapes primarily sourced from the North Coast. Their labels are made from recycled paper and the wine is packaged in lighter bottles.   *Media Sample

The Boom Boom! Syrah 2015 by Charles Smith Wines is the sample of the week. Explosive aromas and juicy flavors of cranberry and blackberries with zippy white pepper energize this wine while the smooth tannins and moderate alcohol (13.5% ABV) make this an easy drinking anytime red. Reasonably priced at approximately $17.99 a bottle and delicious with grilled pork chops. This wine is made from 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier sourced from Colombia Valley in Washington State. The grapes were co-fermented and the wine was aged in neutral barrels on the lees. The grapes come from five different vineyards with unique terroirs which harmoniously blend into a fresh and interesting red wine. All of the vineyards are farmed using sustainable practices such as using recycled water. Enjoy this wine on Earth Day and beyond! *Media Sample

Elise Vandenberg presented  "Famiglie d'Amarone d'Arte: quality Amarone producers unite!" to a full room last month at Taste of Italy - Houston 2017 with help from local Vinitaly Ambassador, Jeremy Parzen . Amarone della Valpolicella wines come from the Valpolicella wine region which is located outside of historic Verona near Lake Garda in northeastern Italy. Vandenberg opened with the relatively short history of the wine. The area has long been known for its sweet version, a passito wine called Recioto della Valpolicella. This wine is believed to have been around since the Roman era while the first commercial release of an Amarone wine would not take place until the 1950's when a winemaker unintentionally left some of the Recioto fermenting until it was fully dry, accidentally giving birth to a new wine style for the region. The production method used to make this style of wine is what makes Amarone unique but it also adds to its expense. These wines requi...

The Les Dauphins Cotes du Rhone Puyméras 2014 is the wine sample of the week. From a 30 yearold Southern Rhone Valley vineyard in the village of Puyméras that has soils comprised of pebbles and shale on stony terraces, this wine is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Carignan. This dry, full-bodied red wine has intense fruity aromas of ripe red raspberries with pomegranate and black pepper with matching mouth-filling flavors and a lingering spicy note in the finish. Soft, smooth, fresh and flavorful, this wine was a pleasure to consume, highly recommended. 13.5%ABV. The Les Dauphins Cotes du Rhone Réserve Rouge 2015 was also enjoyed this week. This wine is a blend of 70% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 5% Mouvèdre from chalky clay vineyard soils in the southern Rhone Valley, south of Drôme and north of Vaucluse. This wine was a bit bigger with a darker fruit profile. This dry, full-bodied red wine has pronounced aromas of blackberries and blackcurrants with licorice and a subtle e...

As originally seen in the April 2017 issue of  Galveston Monthly magazine