Name: Butterfly Kiss Moscato
Variety: 100% Muscat
Region: N/A
Country: Chile
Year: 2012
Price: $13

Winery Review: Aromas of honeydew and apricot, gently kissed by orange blossom, candied pineapple and a hint of lime zest.

My Review: Delicious! A light wine with a pink hue. Unlike the above review, I thought it was rubbery on the nose. The aroma strangely resembled rubber tire. However, the taste was fantastic. A sweet, light wine which taste hinted at apricot, pineapple, and nectarine. Very enjoyable, despite the unusual difference between smell and flavor. No food is needed to enjoy this wine. I would most definitely drink this again!

I tasted this without food. 

 
 

Name: Purple Paws Zinfandel
Variety: 100% Zinfandel
Region: Lodi, California
Country: USA
Year: 2012
Price: $15

Winery Review: It smells like ripe boysenberries and cherries, and tastes generous and broad without being too full bodied. It finishes with more fruit notes and those who love a little spice and smooth tannins will be happy.

My Review: A dark red that smells like raisin and fig, this wine did not impress me. The initial taste was overwhelmingly bitter and my mouth was left dry. Full bodied. A long finish was characterized by a soapy aftertaste. Tannin was very apparent. It would perhaps appeal more to me if paired with food. 

I tasted this without food. 

 
 

Name: Purple Paws Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Lodi, California
Country: USA
Year: Non Vintage
Price: $15

Winery Review: If a Cabernet can be smooth and creamy, this one is. It offers plenty of fruit flavor, smooth tannins that coat the mouth in a good way, plus a plush texture that keeps it from being even a bit harsh. With light body, a soft mouthfeel and lingering finish, there’s much to like.

My Review: I was surprised by this wine. A medium-dark red with a hint of purple, I was expecting dry and full bodied. Instead, it was light bodied and did not have a sharp punch of flavor. A fruity aroma of blackberry and plum matched its fruity flavor. Taste resembled black cherry and the finish was pleasant, although perhaps a little spicy. Very smooth. I would drink again!

I tasted this without food. 

 

Name: Rosemount Estate Chardonnay
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: N/A
Country: South Australia
Year: 2013
Price: $10

Winery Review: This world-renowned wine shows peachy tropical fruit and melon characters on the nose, with a hint of citrus freshness and judicious use of oak. The palate is generous and soft with full, ripe tropical flavors folded into a creamy backdrop that is beautifully structured with a long satisfying finish.

My Review: This dull yellow wine was sweet on the nose, with a pear and apple aroma. The initial taste was a punch of flavor. It seemed to me like unripe fruit rather than the description of full, ripe flavors mentioned above. A buttery aftertaste stayed on the palate long after the initial taste, which gave a smooth finish.

I tasted this without food.  

 

Name: La Lejania Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Central Valley
Country: Chile
Year: 2015
Price: $10

Winery Review: A light, refreshing, balanced sparkling wine with fruit flavors and aromas of citrus, pear and peaches, followed by a nuance of spice.  Enjoy this sparkling wine as an aperitif, or with salads and spicy dishes, especially those using citrus fruit. For dessert this wine pairs well with fresh berries or a fruit tart.

My Review: A very bright wine with a greenish yellow hue. I enjoyed the sweet and fruity aromas, but thought the taste was more sour than described above. Flavor resembled starfruit. I would drink again, but it had a sharp flavor, possibly a result of the hint of spice, that would probably taste better paired with food.


I tasted this without food. 

 

My Personal Experience with Wine

My experiences with wine are few and far between. However, my most recent experience involved a quaint wine shop and much confusion about what kind of wine I should buy. I ended up asking the available wine expert what I should purchase if I do not think I like red wine, but I want to buy one, because I've only ever tried white wines. The expert took me around the store and first showed me a red wine that she described as "really good" but would make my mouth super dry and my lips stick together. I told her I want the opposite of that description for the wine I buy. Then she proceeded to show me a "juicy" wine, which sounded much better, and I decided to buy it. While I was checking out she said, "some people think it tastes like bananas and bubble gum!". I almost told her I decided not to get it, because the last thing I want to drink is something that resembles banana and bubble gum. Nevertheless, I finished checking out and left with a wine that I thought would taste disgusting. I soon discovered that I surprisingly enjoyed the wine, and I did not think it even remotely resembled bananas or bubble gum.

In conclusion, I learned that I do not truly know what wines I like, and I certainly do not understand how to properly describe their tastes. The rare occasions that I do drink wine, I tend to stick with sweet white wines and I steer clear of anything that is primarily described as dry. This being said, I could probably count the number of times I have had wine using my two hands. On a couple occasions I've had wine with a meal, and other times I simply had a glass with friends or at an organized social event.

By the end of this course, I hope to know how to pick out a wine for myself and be able to understand what types of flavors constitute certain wines. I would like to understand why and how wines are described in the manner that they are, and be able to select an appropriate wine for any meal. It would also be interesting to learn how wines are made and what contributes to the unique taste of each wine. I hope to learn some history about how wines came about and the differences between wines produced in various regions of the country and the world.