Graffiti and Wine

What does graffiti have to do with wines? We wondered that too, but we're going to keep you guessing for a minute or two.

First, there are two new wines from Argentina, both just listed at the LCB and some local stores. While this isn't normally noteworthy, the way these wines are being put to market is a little unusual. Think: graffiti on a wall in Toronto and you're on the right track.

Both these wines are made by Graffigna, Argentina's second oldest winery. Established in 1870, Graffigna is located north of Mendoza in the San Juan Valley and bordering on Chile - high altitude and a hot dry climate.

The 100% Malbec is a deal at the price and is aged in both French and American oak. Here are the tasting notes from the winery:

Color: deep red with violet highlights

Aromas: of great complexity with very ripe dark berries, a touch of black pepper and spicy fragrances.

Palate: well integrated delicate ripe tannins and complex finish with hints of coffee, vanilla and toast.

Suggested Retail around $14.00.

Next up is a Pinot Grigio. The following tasting note is from the LCB site, and we've included the SKU to make it easier to find. Another great value Argentinean wine with spice, pear, and ripe citrus aromas on the nose. It's slightly fuller bodied than most Italian versions too, which makes it a great white wine for meat.

SKU: #915918 in the government liquor stores and also available at Legacy Liquor Store.

Okay, now for the fun stuff - the graffiti part. To commemorate this wine, the importer and winery have hired Jaz, a local street artist, to paint a wall mural in Toronto. To quote the press release, “Jaz’s vibrant work can be seen on the streets of cities around the world from Madrid to Montevideo. With this launch event, Graffigna brings together two of Argentina’s most powerful cultural expressions for Canadians to enjoy."

The importer toured the country with paintings from this artist to showcase both the wines and the art. We're going to let the art speak for itself as we really couldn't decide how many points to give it. Wait a minute. Oh right, you don't give points to works of art.

Susan was out of town (lazying about on a Mexican beach apparently, the lucky woman) for the official launch which took place in the wine room at Cin Cin on Robson. A good time was had by all, and for the benefit of anyone else who missed it, here's a video clip of an interview with the artist.

The WSET / ISG Challenge Number 7: A Medley of Miscellany

All things German was the theme for this week’s quiz. Naturally though, the answers might not have been as simple as they appeared.

What is a Reichenstenier?

1. A grape variety
2. A QWPSR in Germany
3. A village in the Rheingau
4. A village in the Rheinhessan

Answer: 1. Reichenstenier is a grape variety that was developed in Germany in 1939 using Müller-Thurgau as one parent and a crossing of Madeleine Angevine and Early Calabrese for the other. Oz Clarke describes Reichenstenier has having “dull flavours which, though “not exactly resembling a Calabrese cabbage, have swathed themselves in the neutrality of the Müller-Thurgau.” Most of Germany’s production occurs in the Rheinhessan although plantings are also found in the UK and New Zealand. This grape is resistant to rot, reaches high sugar levels, but is overall not memorable for taste.

Edelfäule is what?

1. A bereich in the Rheingau
2. A field blend from Alsace
3. Noble Rot
4. A synonym for Riesling used in the Rheingau

Answer: 3. Edelfäule is the benevolent form of Botrytis that gives some of the world’s finest and most long-lived sweet wines – Sauternes and Tokaji being arguably the best known – their distinctive taste.

There is a wealth of information on Noble Rot available, but one popular myth found on Wikipedia suggests the remarkable taste it imparts was discovered in 1775 when the Riesling producers at Schloss Johannisberg, awaited the tradition go ahead from the estate owner, Heinrich von Bibra, Bishop of Fulda, before cutting their grapes. Unbeknownst to them, the abbey messenger was robbed en route and the cutting delayed three weeks – ample time for the Botrytis to take hold. The grapes were presumed worthless and given to local peasants, who produced a surprisingly good, sweet wine which subsequently became known as Spätlese, or late harvest wine.

FYI: These are actual practice questions from Frank’s WSET and ISG studies. Let us know how you’re enjoying them and using them.

Check out our listing on Local Wine Events Favourite Blogs and vote us up from Number Four.

 

The WSET / ISG Challenge Number 7: A Medley of Miscellany

Happy Boxing Day to all our readers. We hope you indulged in some wonderful times with friends and family yesterday, and that your celebrations included some equally wonderful vintages. This week, Frank’s chosen a couple of miscellaneous questions to test your skills. Tune in tomorrow for answers.

What is a Reichenstenier?

1. A grape variety
2. A QWPSR in Germany
3. A village in the Rheingau
4. A village in the Rheinhessan

Edelfavle is what?

1. A bereich in the Rheingau
2. A field blend from Alsace
3. Noble Rot
4. A synonym for Riesling used in the Rheingau

FYI: The picture above left is a field in the Rheingau region, below right is a village in Alsace that was simply too pretty not to show you. As always, these are actual practice questions from Frank’s WSET and ISG studies. Let us know how you’re enjoying them and using them.

 

The WSET / ISG Challenge Number Five: Argentina

Time to grab some Malbec and find the answers to this week's practice questions.

True or False: There is more Malbec planted in Argentina than anywhere else in the world.

True. Although Malbec is planted in various wine regions throughout France (including Bordeaux and South West France), the total acreage began decreasing in the early 20^th Century as Merlot and Cabernet Franc began gaining popularity. By 1968 plantings in the Libournais was down to 12,100 acres (4,900 hectares) and fell further to 3,460 acres (1,400 hectares) by 2000. It’s estimated that two thirds of the world’s Malbec is grown in Argentina.

What Argentina wine region is located in Patagonia?

1. Nuequen

2. Jujoy

3. La Rioja

4. Salta

If you don’t know the answer right away, this question can be solved by a process of elimination. Patagonia is located at the southernmost point of South America. Since Jujuy and Salta high elevation regions in the northwest, neither of these can be the correct answer. La Rioja was not a trick question – there is a small wine region of 20,000 acres, also in the northwestern part of Argentina. Therefore, the correct answer is Neuquen.

FYI: These are actual practice questions from Frank’s WSET and ISG studies. Let us know how you’re enjoying them and using them.

The WSET / ISG Challenge Number Five: Argentina

I’m just back from a week in Mexico where some spectacular, and astonishingly inexpensive, wines from South America were on the menu every evening. (Note to self: don’t try the Mexican Chardonnay again!) So I was delighted to see Frank had chosen Argentina for today’s practice questions.

And a big Thank you to our readers for your patience as we worked through techie computer issues and vacation scheduling. (Yes, Virginia, there are still a few hotels in Nuevo Vallarta that choose to charge usurious rates for Internet connection. Hint: check your Mayan Resorts reservation closely.)

Here we go with another round. Answers tomorrow.

There is more Malbec (grapes shown left) planted in Argentina than anywhere else in the world.

True or False

What Argentine wine region is located in Patagonia?

1. Nuequen

2. Jujoy

3. La Rioja

4. Salta

FYI: These are actual practice questions from Frank’s WSET and ISG studies. Let us know how you’re enjoying them and using them.

Mount Vernon: A Great Sauvignon Blanc from Kiwi Land

My cousin coming for dinner is always an event. Alan’s been a member of the Opimion Society for years and is always happy to share one or two of his latest finds — which is great for me.

Unlike Frank, I don’t travel much so I seldom have an opportunity to restock my cellar with unusual vintages.

This visit he produced a 2009 Mount Vernon Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough (a scene of the countryside shown below). New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has long been a favourite of mine, but this brought a totally unexpected new taste experience.

Rather than the classic grass I’d anticipated on the nose, there was a crisp, almost salty minerality — slate and gravel rather like standing on the edge of an ancient excavation with a sea breeze caressing my face. Later, floral notes

and just a hint of lavender appeared, but from start to finish, this wine never lost any of its fresh joyousness.

Now I confess, I’d gotten rather heavy-handed with both ginger and garlic when I made the evening’s chili chicken stir fry, but with only 12.5% alcohol, the wine held its own and was, in fact, close to a perfect pairing. It also went unbelievably well with the chocolate cookies my fiancé whipped up for dessert — his special recipe includes cardamom, cloves, and more fresh ginger.

Alas, it seems as if this wine is almost impossible to get any other way than through the society, and the only information I could find on the web was that this winery produces only Sauvignon Blanc and doesn’t have it’s own website. Thanks Alan. Oh, and are you free for dinner again soon?