Tasting- Opera Prima Pink Moscato

Name: Opera Prima Pink Moscato

Variety: 97% Muscat, 3% Tempranillo

Region: La Mancha

Country: Spain

Year: Not listed

Price: $10.00 (Regular) $6.95 (Sale) 

Shop Review: "A blend of Muscat 97% and Tempranillo 3%. This fine sparkling presents an intense aroma of fresh berries and tropical fruits with hints of white flower petals. Delicate bubbles caress the palate offering a silky and pleasant sweetness well balanced by a crisp, refreshing finish. Ideal on its own, as an aperitif or with all types of sweets and desserts. Serve it very cold, between 7 and 9°." - Vintage Cellar

My Review: I really liked this wine! I knew just from the name and the bottle that I was going to like it. I bought the last Opera Prima Moscato that we tasted, and I found this wine to be very similar to that. This wine was a bit bubbly, and it was definitely very fruity. I pulled some strawberry and lemon tastes from this wine. I also tasted a bit of a flowery flavor, which I would describe as either rosy or like gardenias. I would definitely purchase this wine in the future. 

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Cortenova Primativo

Name: Cortenova Primativo

Variety: 100% Zinfandel

Region: Puglia

Country: Italy

Year: 2012

Price: $10.00 (Regular) $6.95 (Sale) 

Shop Review: "Dark, ruby-red color with violet highlights. Intense and fragrant bouquet with a rich array of red and black fruit aromas and flavors. Harmonious and velvety on the palate. Great balance and structure. 100% Zinfandel" - Vintage Cellar

My Review: Again, I was not a fan of this wine. This wine was extremely spicy in my opinion, and it tasted a little bit like smoked wood. I personally did not taste any of the fruit flavors in this wine because I was so overwhelmed by a peppery spice. This wine was extremely bold, and I do not see this wine being a purchase of mine in the future. The red wines have failed me again!

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Riebeek Cellars Shiraz

Name: Riebeek Cellars Shiraz

Variety: 100% Shiraz

Region: Swartland

Country: South Africa

Year: 2013

Price: $12.00 (Regular) $6.95 (Sale) 

Shop Review: "Often referred to as Shiraz Country, the Riebeek Valley is renowned for exceptional Shiraz wines. The Riebeek Shiraz is a lively rich wine, full bodied with a subdued smokiness on the nose and a pallet of ripe fruit and interesting spice." - Vintage Cellar

My Review: I definitely was not a fan of this wine. This wine was very spicy, very dry, and very tart. Those tastes are amongst the things that I hate most about a wine, so I think it is safe to say that this was not the wine for me. I found this wine to have a smokey taste and scent to it, which made it very bold. I would not purchase this wine in the future, and I am still on the hunt for a red wine that I really love. 

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Petrucco Ribolla Gialla

Name: Petrucco Ribolla Gialla 

Variety: 100% Ribolla Gialla

Region: Friuli

Country: Italy

Year: 2009

Price: $21.00 (Regular) $7.95 (Sale) 

Shop Review: "87 points –Wine Enthusiast: This well-priced Friulano would pair nicely with spicy Indian or Thai food thanks to the creaminess and richness of its mouthfeel. In addition, the wine offers a solid bouquet of peach and melon that would not compete with fragrant ingredients 100% Ribolla Gialla." - Vintage Cellar

My Review: I really liked this wine! I could both smell and taste the peach and melon in this wine, which is probably why I liked it so much. Although this wine was fruity, it wasn't overwhelmingly sweet. I thought that this wine had a very surprising spicy finish to it, but the texture of this wine was very soft at the same time. I thought that this wine was close to that of a buttery texture. I have never tried a Ribolla Gialla before this week, so I am glad I got to have that experience. 

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Le Jade Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Le Jade Sauvignon Blanc 

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Languedoc

Country: France

Year: 2013

Price: $10 (Regular) $5.95 (Sale) 

Shop Review: "89 points -Beverage Testing Institute: Silvery straw color. Lively aromas and flavors of pineapple, yellow apple, melon, and Meyer lemon with a silky, bright, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a tingling, complex, medium-long finish with notes of lemongrass, pear, and lemon with no tannins and no oak. Bright and crisp with layers of juicy pineapple, pear, lemongrass and ripe melon make this perfect for repeated sipping or enhancing fresh farm to table cookery." - Vintage Cellar

My Review: I can now take back my statement from last week when I said that I have never liked any Sauvignon Blanc wines that I have tasted! I was very excited to finally like this wine variety of Sauvignon Blanc. It honestly caught me by surprise because I was expecting to hate it, and I didn't! This wine was tart with hints of melon and other tropical fruits. I thought that this wine had a very smooth finish to it, which was very appealing. I would definitely buy this wine if I want this variety in the future!

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Coastal Vines White Zinfandel

Name: Coastal Vines White Zinfandel

Variety: Zinfandel

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: 2013

Price: $6.95 

Shop Review: "This White Zinfandel has a beautiful pink salmon color and crisp acidity. The wine shows juicy fruit flavors of strawberry and cherry, with a tangy sweet finish. Pairs well with mild cheeses, crab cakes, and spicy Asian cuisine." - Vintage Wine Cellar

My Review: I really liked this wine, but this did not come as a surprise to me since I have liked other Zinfandels in the past. This wine had a melon taste to it with bursts of strawberry. This wine was very sweet and very fruity, and it is definitely something that I would buy in the future. I found this wine to be very refreshing, and I was glad to end the tasting with a wine that I really enjoyed since I was not fond of the majority of the wines that I tasted this week. I wasn't able to pair this wine with any foods while at the tasting, but I would be interested to try it with crab cakes like the shop review recommends.  

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Ilurce Tempranillo

Name: Ilurce Tempranillo

Variety: 100% Tempranillo

Region: Rioja

Country: Spain

Year: 2008

Price: $14.00 (Regular) $5.95 (Sale)

Shop Review: "(88 points – Stephen Tanzer) Dark purple. Zesty, youthfully medicinal aromas of dark berries, licorice and cracked pepper. Juicy and fresh, with smooth texture and sweet cherry and spice flavors framed by dusty tannins. Finishes with a suggestion of slightly roasted fruits and good clinging persistence. Delivers a lot of power and richness for the money." - Vintage Wine Cellar

My Review: This week, there were a lot of dry wines, and this one was no exception. I found this wine to be a little bit spicy and it had a bite to it just as the San Elias did. While tasting this wine, I got bursts of flavor of cherries and berries. I thought that this wine was very smooth to drink, but I found the pepper flavors to be a bit overwhelming. In the future, I do not think that this would be a wine that I would buy.  

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- San Elias Carmenere

Name: San Elias Carmenere

Variety: 100% Carmenere

Region: Valle Central

Country: Chile

Year: 2014

Price: $9.00 (Regular) $5.95 (Sale)

Shop Review: "This medium-bodied red offers roasted plum, kirsch, sage and game notes, with light tannins supporting the spicy finish." - Vintage Wine Cellar

My Review: I thought that this red wine had a bit of a bite to it. While tasting this wine, I sensed some tastes of licorice or possibly chocolate. However, when I smelt the wine I picked up on the scent of plums. I haven't been able to find a red wine that I like yet, but this one wasn't too bad. I thought that this wine had a very interesting blend of tastes, but unfortunately this was not my favorite wine this week.   

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Riebeek Chenin Blanc

Name: Riebeek Chenin Blanc

Variety: Chenin Blanc

Region: Swartland 

Country: South Africa

Year: 2014

Price: $10.00 (Regular) $6.95 (Sale)

Shop Review: "Fresh kiwifruit, green apple and almond notes bounce along, showing a flash of plantain on the friendly finish. Drink now." - Vintage Wine Cellar

My Review: This wine was kind of tart. To me, this wine both smelt and tasted like pears with a mix of green apple. At first I did not taste the kiwifruit in this wine, but now that I see that in the description, I can definitely see where they got that from. This wine was a tiny bit dry to me but it was still kind of sweet at the same time. I liked this wine, but it definitely was not my favorite. 

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Santa Luz Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Santa Luz Sauvignon Blanc 

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Region: Valle Central 

Country: Chile

Year: 2013

Price: $11.00 (Regular) $6.95 (Sale)

Shop Review: "Like any good Sauvignon Blanc, this opens with oceanic aromas of citrus fruits, sea foam and minerality. In the mouth, it is juicy and stony, with washing acidity. Flavors of honeydew, lime and a nice grassiness finish firm, with good backbone. Drink this with salads, shellfish and ceviche." - Vintage Wine Cellar

My Review: I did not like this wine at all, and I am beginning to see a trend that I do not like Sauvignon Blanc wines. To me, this wine was so dry that it sucked all of the flavor right out of my mouth. I couldn't focus on anything else about the wine while I was drinking it because it was so extremely dry to me. I could sense some of the lime when I smelled the wine, but as I said before, this flavor did not stand out to me while tasting it. 

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Canyon Road Moscato

Name: Canyon Road Moscato

Variety: Muscat Blanc A Petits Grains

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: 2013

Price: $12.00 (Regular) $6.95 (Sale)

Shop Review: "Floral, with tea rose and cherry blossom notes, this balanced Moscato shows flavors of ripe white cherry, candied plum and almond on the smooth finish." - Vintage Wine Cellar

My Review: This wine was a amazing!!! Every time I go to the wine tastings I find a new favorite, and this wine is definitely that! This is the most smooth, fruity, and refreshing wine that I have ever had. I could definitely taste the white cherry in this wine. Although the shop review does not say anything about peaches, pears, or apricots, I tasted those fruits as I was drinking this wine. I loved this wine so much that I bought an entire bottle for myself, and I will probably be going back later this weekend to buy another one. This wine is a MUST-HAVE!

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Resonata Nero D’Avola

Name: Resonata Nero D’Avola

Variety: Nero D’Avola

Region: Sicily

Country: Italy

Year: 2013

Price: $14.00 (Regular) $6.95 (Sale)

Shop Review: "The grapes are soft pressed and the juice is placed in stainless steel along with the skins for a maceration of 8 to 10 days with daily pumping over of the juice to extract more color and sweet tannins. Dense ruby red with violet reflections. Lush and ripe bouquet full of mulberries, blackberries and spice. Harmonious and well balanced with good berry fruit in a spicy background. Excellent with lamb, grilled and barbecued meats, dishes with olives or capers and seasoned cheeses." - Vintage Wine Cellar

My Review: This wine was AWFUL. I hope I never taste this wine again or anything remotely similar to it. This wine was so dry and so bitter. I don't think I have had a wine before that I could even compare to the crazy level of dryness that this wine was. This wine is definitely for all of those steak lovers out there because I do think it might pair well with that. Needless to say, I will never purchase this wine or anything like it for my own enjoyment.

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Canyon Road Pinot Noir

Name: Canyon Road Pinot Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: 2013

Price: $12.00 (Regular) $6.95 (Sale)

Shop Review: "Rich, fruit forward cherry flavors, soft tannins, a medium body and a smooth velvety finish. Pairs well with creamy soups, salmon, and savory pork dishes." - Vintage Wine Cellar

My Review: This was a sweet red wine that tasted very romantic to me. I feel like this is a wine that you would have on a date at a nice restaurant. Although I was not a fan of this particular wine, I still thought the Vintage Wine Cellar was on point when they said this wine had a smooth velvety finish. I picked up more of a floral taste from this wine rather than the cherry, but that was just my thought when I first tasted it before looking at what was in it. 

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Maipe Torrontes

Name: Maipe Torrontes

Variety: Torrontes

Region: Mendoza (Andean North West)

Country: Argentina

Year: 2013

Price: $7.95

Shop Review: "Spring-like nose of fresh white peaches, pears, green apple, green melon and hints of jasmine and rose petals. On the palate, it has a beautiful structure and acidity along with fruit flavors and plenty of body. Well balanced, this wine displays a pleasant freshness with citrus notes and a long finish." - Vintage Wine Cellar

My Review: This wine tasted a tad bitter to me, but it was surprisingly tasty yet again. When I tasted this wine, I tasted more of the fruitiness than I tasted the floral accents. I pin pointed the white peaches and green apple right away. I thought this wine tasted more potent than some of the other wines I have had, and this wine was also very crisp. I would consider purchasing this wine in the future, but for now I will stick to my Moscato! 

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Hugl Grüner Veltliner

Name: Hugl Grüner Veltinliner

Variety: 100% Grüner Veltliner

Region: Niederösterreich

Country: Austria

Year: 2013

Price: $14.00 (Regular) $7.95 (Sale)

Shop Review: "Wine Enthusiast – 89 points

"A fresh scent of green pears greets the nose. What follows comes in a light, crisp citrus vein, supported by a rounded mouthfeel. A refreshing wine for immediate drinking. - Anne Krebiehl, MW" - Vintage Wine Cellar

My Review: This wine tasted a tad bitter to me, but surprisingly tasty. I definitely got a huge sense of the pear in this wine. It both smelt and tasted very fruity. Overall, I liked this wine, but I do not think this would be a wine that I would purchase for my own enjoyment. 

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Opera Prima Sparkling Moscato

Name: Opera Prima Sparkling Moscato

Variety: Muscat Rose A Petits Grains

Region: Castilla La Mancha

Country: Spain

Year: unknown..I own this bottle of wine, and there is no year listed. The Vintage Cellar also did not list a year on their website. 

Price: $15.00 (Regular) $6.95 (Sale)

Shop Review: "85 Points – Wine Enthusiast

Flowery and sweet smelling, then round and fairly smooth in the mouth. The bubbles and flavor package of tropical fruits galore is pleasant and shouldn’t offend anyone. Finishes clean and easy. A mango boat of flavor." - Vintage Wine Cellar

My Review: I absolutely loved this wine. It was very sweet and very tropical. The bubbles in this wine gave it that added punch, which was very refreshing. This definitely felt like a much girly wine, and I fell into that trap. I actually ended up purchasing this wine after the tasting!

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- "Foxhollow Cabernet Sauvignon"

Name: Foxhollow Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: 2012

Price: $5.95

Shop Review: "Rich and supple with juicy plum, blackberry and chocolate flavors and a pleasant sense of sweetness backed up by good acidity and moderate tannins. Offers early complexity and charm with real richness and depth. " - Vintage Wine Cellar

My Review: For a red wine, I thought this one was the best that I have tasted thus far. It was sweeter than most that I have tried. I definitely got a lot of the plum and blackberry accents from this wine. I was also able to clearly note the chocolate under hints. Overall, this wine was pretty tasty. However, I still do not think this is one that I would purchase for my own enjoyment.

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine. 

Tasting- Foxhollow Chardonnay

Name: Foxhollow Chardonnay

Variety: Chardonnay

Region: California

Country: United States

Year: 2012

Price: $5.95

Shop Review: "This Chardonnay’s aromas of tropical pineapple, crisp green apple and citrus are supported by underlying nuances of vanilla. The finish is smooth and creamy yet balanced with enough acidity to accentuate the vibrant fruit flavors with a hint of orange blossoms." - Vintage Wine Cellar

My Review: I liked this white wine during the tasting. I tasted a lot of tropical fruits in this wine, particularly the pineapple. During the tasting, I noted that the wine tasted a bit earthy to me. I think I was tasting the vanilla when I said that. Overall, this wine was not as bitter or dry as some of the others and I would give this wine a good rating. 

Food: I drank this wine at the Vintage Cellar tasting, so I was unable to pair any foods to this wine.