Kevin Zraly
On Saturday, February 18, 2023, we attended the One Hour Wine ExpertTM seminar with Kevin Zraly, award-winning author of Windows on the World Complete Wine Course sponsored by Wilson Daniels, held during the 1st Annual Queen City International Wine Festival.
The art of covering the glass and swirling
Over the course of the seminar, we learned fun facts that 90% of taste is smell, the Hudson Valley is the oldest wine area in the United States, and that our sense of smell gradually diminishes after age 32. As taste is related to smell, there are three different levels of tasting categories: non-tasters, tasters, and super-tasters. While non-tasters can taste nothing, supertasters taste everything and are overly sensitive impairing their ability to tolerate anything spicy like black pepper. Like most things in life, moderation is best, and with wine you hope to be middle of the road in the tasting category.
The sniff
We tasted four different wines, three from California and one from Oregon, a Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir, and a Cabernet Sauvignon. Before we began tasting, we first learned how to best appreciate the smell of the wine by covering it with our hand and swirling the glass, then lifting our hand and breathing in deeply to elicit the most aromatics from the wine. Four wines tasted, four different styles, yet all delicious.
Kevin compared wines to milk, with white wine like Riesling the equivalent of "skim milk," Sauvignon Blanc as "whole milk," and Chardonnay as "heavy cream" meaning the wines range from lighter to heavier, both in color as well as mouthfeel. While with red wines, Pinot Noir is the "skim milk," Merlot would be "whole milk," and Cabernet Sauvignon as "heavy cream."
Wine Tasting
Whitehall Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2020, Napa Valley, California
Rombauer Chardonnay 2021, Carneros, California
Elk Cove Pinot Noir 2021, Willamette Valley, Oregon
RouteStock Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Napa Valley, California
The Wine Tasting
The Whitehall Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2020 was made like a Bordeaux blend that was light in color that would pair well with oysters or white fish in a cream sauce. Notes of baked apple, lychee, pear, toasted walnuts, very little oak, white flowers like honeysuckle, and yeasty fresh croissant on the nose. On the palate, there were citrus notes of grapefruit, lime, and lemon with a lingering finish.
The Rombauer Chardonnay 2021, Carneros, California was made with 100% Chardonnay which had a deeper color from aging in oak, with 14.5% alcohol. Woody, white peaches and apricot notes. This was a wine that although very drinkable now could age for another 5 years to elicit its full potential.
The Elk Cove Pinot Noir 2021, Willamette Valley, Oregon, was made from 100% Pinot Noir fermented in steel tanks, then barrel aged for 10 months in French oak. Kevin described it as a red wine masquerading as a white wine. It is a "skim milk" wine, meaning that it is lighter in color and flavor. Red fruit, red cherries, violets, cola, and leather on the nose, with nice backbone and acidity. This wine would pair well with fish especially Pacific White Salmon or Swordfish.
Sniffing Cabernet Sauvignon
The RouteStock Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Napa Valley, California, made like a Bordeaux blend of 91.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.3% Merlot, 2.1% Malbec, and 1.1% Petit Verdot. This was a more powerful wine with its vibrant dark purple color with dark fruit, cocoa, hints of cinnamon, and deep plum on the nose that followed through on the palate. This wine was drinkable now, but could age for 3 more years to elicit its full potential. This wine would pair well with grilled portabella mushrooms, sirloin because of its fat content and protein, and lamb. The fat and protein help breakdown tannins which is why when you add a bit of butter to a steak its brings out the flavors of the meat as well as the wine. This was a "heavy cream" of a wine.
Interesting to note is that when the class was asked which wines they preferred, those that preferred the Sauvignon Blanc over the Chardonnay, also preferred the Pinot Noir over the Cabernet Sauvignon, whereas those that selected the Chardonnay also preferred the Cabernet Sauvignon. We both selected the Chardonnay and the Cabernet Sauvignon as our wine preferences, meaning that we like "heavy cream" wines that are powerful and full of flavor. When in doubt as to which wine goes with what foods, it is up to your own palate, and Kevin notes, chicken goes with everything.
Kevin Zraly and Debra C. Argen
Pro Wine Tasting Tips: Do not wear scent to tastings as it will interfere with your sense of smell and diminish your ability to detect nuances in the wine. If you can see through the wine when you tip the glass and hold it over a white napkin it is ready to drink.
Until next time, cheers!
Read about our experience at the 1st Annual Queen City International Wine Festival in the Wine Cellar section.
For information on Kevin Zraly or to attend one of his upcoming wine classes, please visit his website: www.KevinZraly.com
Kevin Zraly
Telephone: +1-845-255-1456
Email: kevin@kevinzraly.com
Website: www.kevinzraly.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KevinZralyWineWriter
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kevinzraly
Revel 32
32 Cannon Street
Poughkeepsie, New York 12601
United States
Telephone: +1-845-244-8880
Fax: +1-877-889-2093
Email: info@revel32.com
Website: www.revel32.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Revel32
Instagram: www.instragram.com/revel32pk
For more information on Revel 32, upcoming events, as well as hosting a wedding or special event there, please visit their website at: www.revel32.com
1915 Wine Cellar
40 Cannon Street
Poughkeepsie, New York 12601
United States
Telephone: +1-845-232-5311
Website: www.1915.wine
Facebook: www.facebook.com/1915wine
Instagram: www.instagram.com/1915wine
1915 Wine Cellar is open Tuesday through Thursday from 4:00 pm until 10:00 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 4:00 pm until 12:00 am. Parking is available both on and off street in nearby parking lots. Parking is free after 6:00 pm and on Weekends and Holidays. Visit their website for directions and more parking information.
For information on 1915 Wine Cellar and their upcoming events including their live music calendar, please visit their website at: www.1915.wine.
Queen City International Wine Fest
Website: www.queencityinternationalwinefestival.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/QueenCityWineFest/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/queencitywinefest
For information on the next Queen City International Wine Fest, please visit the website: https://www.queencityinternationalwinefestival.com/
Dutchess Tourism – Hudson Valley Region New York
3 Neptune Road, Suite A11A
Poughkeepsie, New York 12601
United States
Telephone: 1-800-445-3131
Fax: +1845-240-1633
Email: info@dutchesstourism.com
Website: www.DutchessTourism.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DutchessTourism
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dutchesstourism
For information on visiting the Hudson Valley and upcoming events, please visit the Dutchess Tourism website at: http://www.dutchesstourism.com/
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