Zeppolis Food and Wine Pairing/ Tasting

I really enjoyed this food and wine pairing. It was the first one I ever went to and it was different than I thought it would be. I went there with the idea we would try a wine and food it should be paired with one at at time. However you just served yourself a plate of food at the beginning and then paired the foods and wine yourself. I liked this idea a lot because you could teach yourself what wines best with different food. And while there were many similarities, every palate is different. I like how the tasting allowed you to develop your own palate through the foods and wines. 


I really enjoyed the progression of wines and how there were wines of all different varieties. I enjoyed how some of the tasting were blind, and  he would have us guess what grape was in the wine. It was interesting to see how different all our responses were. But I think it made us think about the flavor profiles of each wine more. 

Overall I really enjoyed this wine tasting and would love to do another one soon. I feel like I had to opportunity to learn a lot about wine in a fun way. 


WHITES: 
Fossi Bianco White Table Wine: An inexpensive crisp, fruity Italian white that is very drinkable. It is light, refreshing, and easy to enjoy. From outstanding Chianti producer Andrea Fossi, there is a lot of quality in the bottle for this price. Excellent for a big gathering. Light bodied, green apple and citrus undertones, crisp clean finish. [ $6.99,  11.5% Alcohol]
My outlook: I liked this wine because it was not overly dry or sweet. I thought it paired well with the cheese and crackers on the plate.

La Fiera 2010 Pinot Grigio Veneto: It has straw color with a fruity bouquet filled with apples and pears. The palate is dry, soft and well balanced with a lingering acidity. Exhibits ripe peach and apple flavors with a pleasing mineral finish, perfectly suited as a delightful aperitif or served alongside salads, frilled chicken and seafood. Since 1928, the Botter family has been producing wines under environmentally friendly policies and with innovation production techniques and technologies. [$7.99, 12% Alcohol]
My outlook: A lot of people seemed to not like this wine, but I like how light and crisp it was. The flavors were not anything memorable thought. I thought it went well with the Mediterranean pasta. 



Nals Margried 2010 Pinot Grigio Alto Adige: Here is a Pinot Grigio (of which 30% see contact with oak) with a rich, creamy mouth feel and compelling aromas of yellow fruit and Golden Delicious apple. The wine is thick and slightly oily on the finish. Lively, refreshing and seems to have an Alpine purity. Nicely defined on the palate showing pear, melon, tangy lemon curd, and a Fruity Finish. [$14.99, 14% Alcohol]
My outlook: I could taste the oak aging in this wine and I liked it. It had some creamy flavors to me and I like that. I thought the wine paired well with the garlic bread. 



Lodali 2011 Moscato D'Asti: A delightfully aromatic wine, with loads of fresh fruit flavors bursting from the glass. It is sweet, but beautifully balanced by the wine's effervescence and acidity. Being Frizzante, it has only about half the effervescence of a sparkling wine, and is hard to resist. The wine makes a wonderful accompaniment to many desserts, especially those made with fruit such as peach, pear, apple and berries. [$12.99, 5.5% Alcohol]
My outlook: I have had this wine before and love it!! I love that it is a frizzante! However I do wish this wine had a great alcohol content. But I did think it was too sweet to go well with any of the food, but paired best with the pasta.


REDS:
Luca Primitivo del Salento Puglia: From the easternmost part of Italy (the heel), and one of the most prolific wine producing areas since Phoenician times, the Primitivo grape produces rich, dark, fruity wine of distinctive character. Known as the father of Zinfandel, this wine shows similar qualities without the "jammy" mouth feel of the California style; a pronounced vinuous quality is readily apparent on the nose, followed by a collage of flavors. Bright plums and burnt cherries are complimented by pepper spice and laced with mineral notes. A full-bodied wine, great with barbequed meats, roasts, game, and hearty pasta sauces. [$8.99, 13% Alcohol]
My outlook: I had this wine with the marinara sauce pasta  and I still though the wine was a bit dry. But when I had it with the cheese and crackers it was a totally different wine. I could now taste all the plum and berries coming thought and there was no more heat in the wine. I liked it wine once I had the second tasting. 



SUD 2010 Primitivo Puglia: Feudi di San Marzano's 2010 Privative Puglia Salento cuts a handsome appearance in the glass. It wears a deep purple robe that is imbued with fiery glints of ruby. More importantly, it offers an intense aromatic profile of plum, cherry, herb, vanilla, and spices that caress the nose. On the palate, the wine continues to work its magic by spreading plush fruit and herb driven flavors to fill the mouth. Coupled with the wine's bright fruit is a balanced minerality that adds both interest and vibrancy. [$11.99, 13.5% Alcohol]
My outlook: I did not like this wine as much because it has more of a heat to it. I could taste the vanilla a little bit, but not so much the fruit flavors. I thought it paired well with the pizza and  Mediterranean pasta . 



Morli Neri 2009 Sangiovese and Chianti DOCG: This is beautifully traditional Sangiovese and Chianti with great compatibility with food. It has a dried-cherry nose and burst of plummy jam on the palate. It has a soft bouquet and long lasting aroma. This medium bodied, earthy red is wonderful with red-sause based foods such as pizza, pasta, and lasagna. [$9.99, 12.5% Alcohol]
My outlook: We were told this was a traditional Italian house wine. Well I don't wanna house wine in Italy. I thought it was too dry and spicy and not well balanced. But I head this was normal for undeveloped or American palates. I thought the wine was more bearable with the red sauce pasta and garlic bread. 



Bibi Graetz 2010 Casamata Toscana: Casamatta (meaning Crazy Horse!) is 100% Sangiovese pure blend from various Tuscan microclimates which reconfirms the exceptional nature of this territory. Smooth and rich, the wine displays all the classic qualities of the varietal with ripe red currant, earthy tannins, and hints of licorice. It is easy to drink, great with food or just by the glass, and sure to please. An unbelievable bargain too! [$12.99, 12% Alcohol]
My outlook: I did not like this wine. I could taste the licorice in the wine and it had a lot of tannic structure to it. I thought the wine paired well with the Mediterranean pasta .  



Lodali 2009 Nebbiolo D'Alba Sant Ambrogrio: Aged 12 months in French and Slovenian oak barrels and 3 months in bottle. The color is bright ruby red with shades of garnet, and the aroma is subtle and lingering, with hints of florality and licorice. The flavor is full and well-rounded, long-lasting and harmonious. Pairs well with pasta and vegetables, game birds, roast meats and cheese. [$17.99, 13.5% Alcohol]
My outlook: The people at my table really like this wine, but I did not. It was a blended wine and all I could taste was alcohol. When I paired it with the cheese and pasta dishes it was better and more smooth. One thing I did like abut this was the velvety/ smooth mouth feel, but I did find this fine very full-body and almost like I had to chew it.