Zinfandel: California’s Grape – An Upcoming Tasting at Gambardella’s!

 For most of us, when we think of Zinfandel, we think of California, and rightly so – California has more Zinfandel under vine than the rest of the world combined.  However, it may surprise you to learn that at one time, there was more Zinfandel planted in Croatia than in anywhere else in the world.

In this weeks tasting at Gambardella’s Pasta Bella, I’ll be talking about how the Zinfandel grape got from Yugoslavia to America, why Zinfandel isn’t really California’s grape, why the grape has all but disappeared from it’s homeland, and why Zinfandel is so important to California’s wine-making history. I will also be sharing some fantastic examples of Zinfandel with you, including some old-vine gems that I think you’ll love.  As always, Gambardella’s will be providing a fantastic selection of appetizers for you to enjoy while tasting.

Clear your calendar and your palate, it’s going to be a great time!

The Details:

Where: Gambardella’s Pasta Bella
When: Thursday, October 27th at 7pm
Cost: $23 Per Person.  Cost includes a fantastic selection of appetizers.
Please RSVP at 907-457-4992

Upcoming Tastings: A Taste of a Historic Napa Valley Winery and and The Wine of South America

A Taste of a Historic Napa Valley Winery with host Riana Mondavi

In 1861, Charles Krug established the first winery in Napa Valley. Since purchasing the winery in 1943, the Peter Mondavi Sr. Family has preserved its traditions and historic buildings for four generations while innovating with state of the art winemaking techniques.  With grapes from their 850 acres of estate land, they make some of Napa Valley’s finest wines.   

We are fortunate enough to have Riana Mondavi – Peter Mondavi’s granddaughter – in Fairbanks to host this tasting at Lavelle’s Bistro.   Be sure to call and reserve your seat early, Tuesday Tastings at Lavelle’s have been selling out!

The Details:

Where: Lavelle’s Bistro
When: Tuesday, October 18th at 7pm
Cost: $30 for Lavelle’s Wine Guild Members,  $35 for non-members
Please RSVP at 907-450-0555

The Wines of South America at Gambardella’s Pasta Bella

South America consistently impresses me with the quality and value of its wine.  From brambly Malbec from Mendoza Argentina to velvety Carmenere from Colchagua Valley in Chile, there are some fantastic bottles to be found.

This week at Gambardella’s Pasta Bella, we will be exploring some of what South America has to offer – from racy Chilean Sauvignon Blanc and Argentinian Torrontes to rich Malbecs and Cabernet.  If you’re interested in South American wines at all, it should be a fantastic tasting.

The Details:

Where: Gambardella’s Pasta Bella
When: Thursday, October 20th at 7pm
Cost: $23 Per Person.  Cost includes a fantastic selection of appetizers.
Please RSVP at 907-457-4992

Upcoming Tasting: Piedmont and More

This week at Gambardella’s we’ll be exploring some of Piedmont’s most famous wines, as well as a selection of more esoteric Italian offerings. Piedmont is one of my favorite Italian wine regions, second only to Tuscany. While Piedmont isn’t as experimental in its offerings, with not as many producers experimenting with international grape varietals, its appeal is in its diversity of indigenous grapes – especially Nebbiolo, which can give Cabernet a run for its money in power and elegance.

I’ve always had a fascination with varied styles of Italian wine, and this week gives us an opportunity to explore some lesser known regions as well as Piedmont.  We’ll be trying Cannonau, an indigenous grape from Sardinia, Aglianico from Campania and a Nero d’Avola blend from Sicily.  In all, it should be a great exploration of Italian wines without touching a drop of Chianti.

The Details
Where: Gambardella’s Pasta Bella
When: Thursday, October 13th at 7pm
Cost: $23 Per Person
Please RSVP at 907-457-4992

Upcoming Tasting: Wine Tasting 101

This week at Gambardella’s Pasta Bella, we’ll be not just tasting wine, but talking about how to taste it.  For those that are new to wine tasting, I’ll explain what the color, smell and mouthfeel of the wine can tell us about how the wine was made.  For those that are old hands (or palates) at tasting, this will provide a chance to brush up on your wine evaluation, and, as always, taste some fantastic wine!

The Details
Where: Gambardella’s Pasta Bella
When: Thursday, October 6th at 7pm
Cost: $20 Per Person
Please RSVP at 907-457-4992

It’s Wine Season!

The leaves have fallen, and the chill in the air means that it’s time for wine season again in Fairbanks!  Now that my seasonal accounts have closed their doors, I finally have a chance to get back to my blog and back to my weekly tastings at Gambardella’s Pasta Bella.

It’s an exciting time for wine-lovers in Fairbanks.  Along with the “Wine Experience” on Monday’s at Sophie’s Station, Tuesday Tastings at Lavelle’s Bistro, informal wine discussion at Bobby’s Downtown on Wednesday, my Thursday tastings at Gambardella’s, and the many fundraiser, Gold Hill and Gavora’s tastings this year, Geraldo’s restaurant will also be hosting tastings once they complete their addition – which includes a wine bar.  More than ever, Fairbanksans will have the opportunity to drink and learn about great wine almost every day of the week, and I couldn’t be happier.

Wine Tastings in Fairbanks – The Details:

Paradigmwine on the Air

Looking for more wine talk outside of the web?  Tune into KFAR 660AM on Thursdays at 5:45, where I talk wine with Michael Dukes of KFAR and Gavora’s Fine Wine manager Dave Clark.

Every week we’ll be talking about three wines that I selected that will be on special at Gavora’s Fine Wine.  Tune in and listen as we try to bring a little big city culture into little Fairbanks.

Wine of the Week: Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuisse

In the winter I don’t mind Californian-Style Chardonnays, with their robust oak flavors, creamy mouth-feel and tasty notes of butterscotch and caramel.  As summer approaches, however, they can seem heavy and… excessive.  Sometimes all the oak and butter is all your palate can detect, and you lose the wine itself.  It reminds me of going to a restaurant, and when your main dish comes out, it is covered in so much sauce that you can’t taste what it is served over.  The sauce may be good, but it should act to complement the dish, not be the dish.

I enjoy the Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuisse (pronounced Puh-yee Foo-say) because it reminds you that excellent Chardonnay, like an excellent filet of fish, doesn’t need any sauce, and instead can stand proudly on its own.

Pouilly-Fuisse is from Burgundy France, and is named for the two of the four villages (Solutre-Pouilly, Vergisson, Chaintre and Fuisse) where it is produced.  Always 100% Chardonnay, the wines made there are light, balanced, and crisp.  While there is some oak influence in Louis Jadot’s wine, it is applied judiciously, complementing, rather than covering the delicate flavors of green apple and flinty mineral that make this Chardonnay so appealing and refreshing.

French White Burgundy ranges from cheap (and generally bad) to very expensive (and generally very good).  I like Louis Jadot’s combination of price and quality, and while it retails a little higher than most wines I’ve recommended (expect to pay $23-28 at most retail stores), it outperforms other Chardonnays twice it’s price.  For those that prefer to buy domestic wines to support U.S. business, you can buy this wine and stick to your principles, as Louis Jadot is the only French wine company owned by a U.S. business.

The Facts

The Wine: Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuisse
Appellation: Pouilly-Fuisse AOC, in the Maconnais region of Burgundy France
Composition: 100% Chardonnay
ABV: 12%
Production: 25,000 cases imported
Where you can find it in Fairbanks: By the bottle at Lavelle’s Bistro, on the store shelf at Gavora’s Fine Wine and Gold Hill