See pictures of past Wizard events by clicking below:

• Wine Dinner at Bar & Grille on 7 - 2010
• July 2010 Summer Picnic
• May 2010 Wine Dinner at 'Spagone'
• December Christmas Party - 2009
• Wine Dinner at Bar & Grille on 7 - 2009
• Wine Wizard's 2009 Picnic
• June Wine Dinner at Barcelona
• May 2009 Wine Dinner at 'Spagone'
• 2008 Wine Dinner at the 'Catch'
• Wine Wizard's 2008 Picnic
• May 2008 Wine Dinner at 'Spagone'
• Fall Wine Dinner at 'The Catch'
• Wine Dinner at Barcelona, New Haven
• Tour and tasting at DiGrazia Vineyards
• Wine Wizard's 2007 Picnic

Click here for past Wine Wizard's pages
Click the year to view a table of all wines tasted:     2008     2009    2010

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August, 2010

 

August Wine Tastings

In August, we tasted Sherries with homemade tapas. Sherry is a Spanish wine, although it is now made in many countries. The area near the town of Jerez is the officially designated Spanish Sherry. Sherry is the anglicization of Jerez. By the end of the 16th century Sherry had a reputation in Europe as the world’s finest wine. The Spanish stop by any bar in the late afternoon for Sherry and Tapas. The term tapa comes from King Alfonso who conquered the city of Jerez in 1264 and when stopped in a small town and the inn keeper served his glass of sherry covered by a piece of ham to prevent the gusty wind from blowing anything in the wine. He liked it and requested his second glass for another tapa or cover. The Spanish even invented the verb tapear which means to go eat tapas. Sherry is a white wine, that after fermentation, is fortified by adding brandy. Therefore there are NO vintages or explanation of how much is added. However the alcohol level is between 15% to 20%. The first session the four were very dry. Our winner with 22 points was Lustau Solera Reserva. Founded in 1896 Lustau is considered the most reliable producer for consistency. Sherries have very similar characteristics and are differentiated by the smoothness or delicacy. They are always served chilled. It costs $27.55 with 15% alcohol and is rated 94 by the rating guru (?) Robert Parker. In a tie for second and/or third with 17 points each were Hidalgo La Gitana bottled by a family firm founded in 1792 and is one of Spain’s oldest wine brands. It costs $19.07 with 15% alcohol. Also with 17 points was Barbadillo Fino is 100% family owned business founded in 1821. In the village of Sanlucar de Barrameda their wine cellars have a capacity of 35,000,000 liters making them the largest in the area. It costs $10.59 with 15% alcohol and it is NO secret which one we recommend. In last place with 0 points was inexplicably another Barbadillo. As mentioned the major reasons for choice are delicacy and smoothness. It also costs $10.59 with 15% alcohol. A bonus bottle was Sheffield Very Dry from Gallo Sheffield Cellars, Modesto, California. It was rated by us as a tie with 2 and 3. It has 18% alcohol and cost $5.99 in NH (no tax) for 1.5 liters = to about $3.00 a bottle. The tapas were a traditional “Olives a la Madrilène”, black olives, scallions, garlic, oregano and paprika marinated for several days in olive oil and red wine vinegar. Spanish Manchego cheese cubes marinated several days in olive oil and a “secret” mix of herbs. “Beef and Olive Empanaditas”, beef, onion garlic, cumin, cayenne, chopped pimento-stuffed green olives and tomato sauce baked in pastry all made by yours truly.

In our second session again with three different tapas we tasted medium dry Sherries. How many of you knew in the famous Poe short story “The Cask of Amontillado” what Amontillado was?? Don’t all answer at once! Most of you didn’t know. It was a prized Sherry and therefore a great lure!! Our first choice with an amazing 32 points was Barbadillo Amontillado. Amber in color it is full bodied. It costs $10.59 with17.5% alcohol. Second with a strong 21 points was the well known Dry Sack bottled in Spain but owned by Williams and Humbert in London, the largest sherry shipper in the world. In 1876 they shipped 25,000 cases and three years later shipped 500,000 cases. Dry Sack is their prestige sherry. By Shakespeare’s time “sack” was a synonym for “sherry” Williams and Humbert have the sole rights to “sack”. It costs $16.95 with 19.5% alcohol. A distant third with 2 points was Lustau Solera Reserva. It is acclaimed as the finest Amontillado is full bodied with rich nutty flavor and a hint of dark chocolate. It is from the same winery as our first choice of the dry sherries. Thus DO NOT absolutely trust any winery. It costs $18.01 with 19% alcohol. Last with 0 points was Napoleon Amontillado Hidalgo. Founded in 1792 it is mahogany in color with a rich nutty aroma and full flavor. It was a 500 ml. bottle at $19.07 for an equivalent of $28.61 for a normal sized bottle. It was our most expensive wine ever purchased. PRICE DOES NOT QUALITY MAKE!!! The tapas included mini pastries stuffed with a mixture of goat cheese, cream cheese, fresh parsley, fresh dill and salt and pepper. “Salsa Meatball Tapas”. Remember Andy Griffith’s ad “that everything goes better on a Ritz’!! Well tapas do to. Top a Ritz cracker with a slice of cheddar and meatballs marinated in A-1 sauce and salsa topped with a half pimento-stuffed olive and bake. Finally “Gambas al Ajillo” (garlic shrimp tapa),Shrimp are marinated in garlic, paprika, red pepper flakes, cognac, fresh parsley, lemon juice, and olive oil sautéed and salt and peppered served with baguette slice for the sauce.

If you have paid attention the “value priced wines are the ones to chose and don’t be over-whelmed by labels, names or price.

 

 

 

 

Enjoy a different wine experience with a Sherry and tapa!!!