Fork & Cork

My boyfriend and I

I had been ready for Fork and Cork for weeks! I remember it being announced last year but unfortunately I wasn't of age to enjoy the wine festivities. In March I heard it was coming back, so I bought my ticket as soon as I could. Getting there was entertaining, the bus was packed with students (probably in this class  with blankets, lawn chairs, and thirst mouths. The lines were long, but luckily the line for those with tickets went by very quickly! The first wines we tasted were from the Peaks of Otter Winery from Bedford, VA. The most memorable wines from that winery were:

Strawberry Shortcake purchase

Strawberry Shortcake
$15.00
Their Review: Smooth, Crisp, Refreshing.
My Review: I loved it! It was fruity but not too over the top that it made me sick when I drank the whole bottle. There were strong aromas and tasting of strawberry and apple. Though when I think of strawberry  I think of sweetness, this win had the crisp, fresh, berry taste this made this wine very enjoyable. 

Blueberry Muffin

$15.00

Their Review: Like my wife Nancy-Beautiful but expensive, triangular blue bottle.

My Review: This wine had strong a blueberry nose. It smelled and tasted like waking up to the smell of fresh, warm blueberry muffins baking and then just taking a bite. This wine was a little too fruity or had too much breakfast characteristics that I could drink more than two glasses of it, still those two glasses were yummy.

The Mango Tango

$22.00

Their Review: The dance you'll never forget.

My Review: Though I'm a fan of mango and the summer nose I got from this wine, I was not a fan. The taste of mango overpowered any distinct taste that it was wine. All I could taste was mango and that taste would have gotten old after a few sips. 

Kiss the Devil

$15.00

Their Review: Made from 30 varieties of peppers, including ghost, better for basting than tasting, super hot.

My Review  AHHHHHHHHHH!!! DO PEOPLE ACTUALLY DRINK THIS 'WINE'??? This was the last wine Peaks of otter offered for tasting, but before they asked if we wanted to kiss the devil. After their description  I should have said no, but that's no fun! They had a chaser ready for when we drank it and we surely needed it. It tasted like hot sauce and vodka mixed together. It was definitely not something I would drink with anything! The lingering burn on my tongue was what prompted me to buying their first wine we tasted. I'm guessing that's how they get sales. 

Hokietron dancing!

We were getting hungry, so we decided it was time for lunch and The Cellar truck look like it could hit the spot. I ordered hot dogs with chips. I added ketchup and mustard on it and after each bite I would wash it down with the Strawberry Shortcake wine I bought at Peaks of Otter. I'm not sure if it the tang in the ketchup or mustard, but it was a good idea to drink my wine after. The wine seemed to taste more sweeter that it was on its own. I wouldn't eat hot dogs with tthat again. After watching the live band and older women drunk dancing, we proceeded to continue our tastings with Hill Top Berry wines. I was surprised and excited to learn that these wined were not made form grapes, but from other fruits! I tried:

Lavender Metheglin
$16.95

Their Review: Metheglin is derived from the Welsh word "meddyglyn" which means healing drink.  In ancient times, healing spices were added to mead resulting in a  drink with healing powers.  Lavender, believed to promote good health, is also soothing and relaxing and is associated with romance and seduction.  Possessing a beautiful golden color and a bouquet of fresh lavender flowers, this slightly sweet mead can be enjoyed heated or paired with desserts such as blackberry cobbler. 

My Review: The nose was very soothing, like when you walk to a room where they are burning some kind of lavender candle. The taste was as if you drank the lavender oils that were burning in that room. That taste was most powerful at the beginning and on the finish, but in the middle the honey softened the lavender taste. 

Strawberry Melomel 
$13.95
Their Review: A unique sipping wine with a delightful strawberry bouquet that is sure to please the senses.  Pair it with an assortment of food like cheesecake, almonds, and country ham.  Also makes a great cigar wine. 
My Review: The nose was very fruity with hints of strawberry and other berries, like blueberries. Unlike the one I tasted at Peaks of Otter, the strawberry flavor in this was was overbearing. It was too sweet and I couldn't detect any other flavors. 

Cranberry Table Wine 

$16.95

Their Review: Hold on to your taste buds.  This tart wine goes well with baked or grilled chicken or with turkey during the holidays; makes a refreshing sea breeze or cranberry lemonade as well.

My Review: THIS WAS MY FAVORITE WINE ALL DAY!!! This definitely made your mouth make a sour face, but in a good way. The nose was cranberry, cranberry, cranberry! The taste was tart like they warned, but it was a good tart that made you want some more. Even though it was tart, the fruitiness made it enjoyable alone.I tried to go back and buy another bottle of wines, but they sold out!

My friends visiting from Northen Virginia had a blast!

Tasting - Reserve Grand Veneur Côtes du Rhône

Wine: Reserve Grand Veneur Côtes du Rhône

Variety: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault

Region: Rhone Valley

Country: France

Year: 2010

Price: $14.95/750 mL, $38.95/3L

Winery Review: As for their other values, the 2010 Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Reserve (70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault) displays loads of ripe flavors. It is very concentrated for a Cotes du Rhone, and is actually an amazing wine. Classic garrigue, black cherry liqueur, lavender, licorice and spice box are all present in this fullbodied, intense, and rich Cotes du Rhone. This is a sensational effort to drink over the next 4-5 years, although it might last even longer.

My Review: The color of this wine was a deep red with a full body and great texture. The nose had hints of cherries and spice. The spice was also present in the taste. This wine was utterly dry and bitter. The dryness lingered in your mouth. I would have loved to have it with a meat of some sort to soften the bitterness.

I did not have it with any food.

Tasting - Lobetia Chardonnay

Wine: Lobetia Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: La Mancha

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. Clean, bright color with a greenish-yellow tone. On the nose, exotic fruits like pineapple. Full flavored, fresh, with good acidity in the mouth, it finishes with tropical fruits.

My Review: I'm not sure if this Tempranillo tasted better than other Tepranillos I've had because it was just better or because I saw the description of it being organic and natural. The color was a light, clear, crisp color. I could definitely smell pineapple and apple aromas on the nose. There was definite hints of pineapple in the taste which made it acidic. The citrus and acidic characteristics was just enough to make it an enjoyable wine.

I did not have it with any food.

Tasting - Lobetia Tempranillo

Wine: Lobetia Tempranillo

Variety: Tempranillo

Region: La Mancha

Country: Spain

Year: 2011

Price: $9.95

Winery Review: Organically and naturally grown and made, this wine allows the varietal and the terroir to stand out cleanly. It shows a nice cherry color with a violet shade because of its youth. Red berries and cherries on the nose. On the palate it is fresh, slightly astringent, and harmonious with a long finish.

My Review: The color of this wine was a deep red. The nose was strong with hints of plum and dark cherries. The strong nose continued with a strong taste. The tannins were very high, making the taste and finish bitter. The taste lingered for a while. 

I did not have it with any food.

Tasting - Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele

Wine: Trattoria Busa Alla Torre Da Lele

Variety: Pinot Grigio

Region: Veneto

Country: Italy

Year: NV

Price: $7.95

Winery review: Named after the famous restaurant in Italy! This is their house white wine! Coppery color from extended skin contact, round and rich texture with juicy melon aromas and flavors with a sweet fennel note on the ultra smooth finish. Great value Grigio! Drink now.

My Review: Though the description says that the color is coppery, the color was more clear, like a typical white wine. The nose was fruity with hints of apple and melon. The nose of this pinot grigio had a very acidic and citrus. It wasn't too strong of a citrus taste, instead it made it a perfect Spring/Summer drink. 

I did not have it with any food. 

Rias Baixas Region

Most wine spectators can say that Rias Baixas is the most important Denomination of Origin in northwestern Spain’s Galicia. The establishment of Rias Baixas as a Denomination of Origin was in 1988. When Spain joined the United Nation, the denomination was changed to Rias Baixas because EU wine laws know any DOs named for just a single grape varietal. An official denomination was made specifically for the Albariño grape variety, which is the grape that Rias Baixas grows most successfully.

Because this region shares its border with the Atlantic Ocean, its climate is greatly affected by the ocean. Most of the region has cool, damp climate, but it can vary between the sub regions. Annually, Rias Baixas may get only 2,200 hours of direct sunlight. The average rainfall is very high, at times surpassing 71 inches a year! This great rainfall amount makes Rias Baixas one of the greenest parts of Spain. The rich land is illustrated by rias, deep, wide bay of water from the Atlantic Ocean. The soil, because of the rain, is granitic and rocky with alluvial top-soil. In some area, the vines may be located near mountains and valleys. In this region with its green rolling hills and high rainfall, and high humidity, white and light red wines are the most successful. The Albariño grapes, which are the most successful in this region, have distinct taste characterized by intense flavor from its mouth- watering acidity. It has a pleasant floral finish, many times with small fizz.

There are around 24 wineries in Rias Baixas. Within the region, there are 8,650 acres of grapes with almost 20,000 individual vineyard plots. Nearly 100%    of the wine produced here show the DO designation.

                                                                                             

Within this wine region lie five sub regions of Rias Baixas: the Val do Salnes, Condado de Tea, Rosal, Soutomaior, and Ribera do Ulla. Val do Salnes is the western most sub-region of Rias Baixas and the most coolest and wettest. It is the original and oldest sub region in Rias Baixas. Ultimately, this is where the Albariño grape was born. Its closeness to the coastline helps Val do Salnes creates the best Albariño grapes for Rias Baixas. They grow on gently sloped hills and flat valley on the Umia River. Condado de Tea vines lie near the Miño River and borders Portugal. ‘Tea County’ is named after a tributary of the Miño River, Tea River. This sub region is the farthest away from the Atlantic Ocean so it is the warmest part of Rias Baixas. Because of the warmer weather, the grapes are less acidic but still powerful ones. The Rosal region also grow near the Mino River but also borders the Vinho Verde region in Portugal. The smallest sub region in Rias Baixas, Soutomaior, is located south of the town of Pontevedra. The last sub region is Ribera do Ulla. This region is fairly new, it became recognized as a sub region in 2000.

The Rias Baixas region is regulated by the Consejo Regulador which is a local governing body. Aside from the Albariño grape, other varietal grapes include Loureira, Treixadura, Caiño, Torrontés and Godello. These traditional white grape varietals are the only ones allowed when producing DO wines. They regulate grape varieties, viticulture practices, winemaking and aging procedures. Though they are not a big region in production of red wines, there are specific grape varietals allowed in them. The only ones allowed are Mencía and Brancellao. For a wine to be labeled as ‘Rias Baixas’, it must contain at least 70% Albariño grapes. In certain sub regions, Caiño Blanco and Loureira can also be used in the wines as a blend. An interesting fact about wine labeling in Rias Baixas is the language. Because Rias Baixas is part of the independent region of Galicia with a distinct dialect of Spanish called Gallego, most of the wines labels are in Gallego.

Sources

http://www.riasbaixaswines.com/about/index.php

http://www.cellartours.com/spain/spanish-wine-regions/rias-baixas.html

http://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-rias+baixas

Tasting - Concannon Shiraz

Name: Concannon Shiraz

Variety: Syrah/Shiraz

Region: California

Country: US 

Year: 2008

Price: $7.95

Winery Review: This is an extremely rich, full-bodied wine with a dark fruit core. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cassis and dark cherry are followed by more berry fruits and chocolate and mocha on the palate.

My Review: This wine had a very deep red color. The nose, like the color itself, was dark. The dark taste comes from the smell of cherries and dark chocolate. At one point, I smelled a mixture of liquid tynenol and nyquil. I also got a spicy scent. The taste was strong and dry. I couldn't get the mixture of liquid medicine out of my mind. Luckily the finish was a little softer. 

I did not have it with any food.