Wines
Of The World Seminar
Discover
the roots of Italian Prosecco
Story
and Photos by Mary Buttaro
National
Champion Sommelier Juan Carlos Flores of Pueblo
Bonito Sunset Beach and
LaFrida Restaurant brought together
representatives from select wineries in four different
parts of the world for an educational seminar, wine
tasting and a great time. Gathered at the Pacifica
Holistic Retreat the presenters celebrated their
wine-producing regions by sharing their unique stories
and bringing their wines for us to taste.
Discussion
of Italian Prosecco - the dry, bubbly, sparkling
wine from the Northern Veneto Region of Italy -
its history, culture and production was lead by
Wesley Alejandro Rodriguez Young. In a fast paced
half hour we learned that Prosecco originated in
the historic area between Coneglino and Valdobbiandene,
at the foothills of the Italian Alps, on a 4300
hectare DOC of clay and sandstone that is 50 to
500 meters above the sea level, where grapes are
grown on the south facing slopes only.
The
Prosecco grape is blended with others - Verdiso
(for acid and sapidity), Perera (for aroma and perfume)
and Blanchetta (for polish and refinement) and is
made using the Methode Charmat resulting in a wine
with moderate body, a pale straw color with a greenish
cast, was crisp, clean, refreshing and exhibited
aromas of citrus, floral, peach and honey.
Three types were tasted - Fermo or still is much
like any white wine, Frizzante or Semi-Sparkling
so barely effervescent that bubbles could hardly
be felt, and Spumante or Sparkling, very much like
Champagne, only better.
Prosecco
is very affordable when compared to French or California
sparking wines and becoming widely available in
the United States and around the world.
Devon
Larking, Sales Mgr for BanksChannel, wine merchants,
led the tasting of California wine, serving a 2005
Cabernet from Souvrain. Blended with 5% Merlot is
a big jammy, fruit forward wine.
Although wine is produced in just about every state
in the United States, California dominates by producing
90% of the wine grown in the United States and is
the highest valued crop in the country.
Asked
to speculate about 20009 and wine Devon thought
2009 may be the year of Merlot, box wine, tetra
bags and canned wine!
Next up was Argentina with its flagship variety,
Malbec, a grape of French origin introduced to Argentina
in the 1800's.
Susana
Balbo, celebrity winemaker and President of the
Argentinian Wine trade association, described the
sensual, passionate, tango-like wines produced in
the Mendoza Valley. The vineyards, highest in the
world at 9000 feet above sea level, receive moderating
sea breezes; grow 22 Malbec grape varieties in clay
soil.
The
wine is blended for fruity flavor and tastes of
black cherry, strawberry and violet. Agentinians,
wine lovers, recognize the quality of their local
product and consume 40% of the wine produced in
the county. Only 20-25% of these seductive Argentinian
wines are exported, with demand for wine from Argentina
leaping to 35% growth in the USA. So my advice is,
when you see it, buy it!
Hugo
D'Acosta, Wine Consultant, introduced us to Mexican
wine development. Mexico is considered a dynamic
wine region of the world. With soils of decomposed
Granite, sandy riverbed, earth moved by water, and
an ocean orientation producing fog, Mexico has a
vision to develop a "New World Country"
wine tradition. A wine school has been set up to
train growers and winemakers.
Currently
no less than nine different grape varieties grow
in Mexico but wine production is small and not much
is exported. Thirty-five formal wineries exist,
but 99.5% of the wine production is from only three
wineries. 90% of Mexican wine is produced in a wine
region east of Ensenada.
To
implement the vision 3000 hectares have be planted
in Baja with more vines are being planted in Santo
Tomas, Sante Vincente, Tecate and Valle de Guadalupe.
The
wines we tasted displayed the personality of the
region, exhibited minerality and good acidity.
These
wines were delicious. Visitors to Mexico have traditionally
come to fish, swim, sun and relax. Now a new reason
to come to Mexico - drink the WINE!
Enlightened
by the knowledge of terroir challenges, attendees
were amazed and excited to learn and taste the great
wines produced in these four different regions of
the world.
Other
Related Links:
A
Feast For All Senses
Welcome
Mexican Fiesta
Spirts
Of Mexico Seminar
Winemaker's
Dinner at Fellini's
Wines
Of The World Seminar
Winemaker's
Dinner At Siempre Restaurant
Grand
Tasting, Wines Of World
Celebrity
Chef Winemaker;s Dinner At Lafrida Restaurant
The
Venues:
Pueblo
Bonito Oceanfront Resorts and Spas
Pueblo
Bonito Pacifica Resort & Spa
Pueblo
Bonito Rosé Resort & Spa
Peublo
Bonito Sunset Beach
Peublo
Bonito Pacifica Holistic Retret & Spa
More
Links:
Cabo
Movie Clips
Cabo
Slide SHow
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