Tag Archives: Spain

Holiday Wine Geek Gift: COS, Pithos, Nero d’Avola Frappato, Sicilia IGT, Italy 2010

Posted on December 5, 2013 by waywardwine

Stumped on what to get your wine geek this holiday? Unsure how to shock and awe a wine-centric holiday party. Wayward Wine has the answer.

Fly their wine glasses to Italy’s southernmost corner: Vittoria (represented by the massive, pink, plastic, lawn flamingo…of course).

The town of Vittoria is one of Sicily’s youngest. Founded in 1607. But this trading post has been gang-rushed by Sicans, Sikels, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Goths, Visigoths, Vandals, Arabs, Normans, French Angevins, Spaniards, Chiaramontes, Sicilians, Savoys, Austrians, and most recently, Italians. Even the Americans conquered it, replete with a resplendent donkey-carted-procession:

But through these countless colonizers, wine has made Vittoria tick. Continue reading →

Posted in EMPTIED BOTTLES, Nero D'Avola, Red | Tagged biodynamic, Cerasuolo di Vittoria, DOCG, Etna, Frappato, italy, Nero, Nero D'Avola, pompeii, Ragusa, Sicily, Spain, Visigoths, Vittoria, wine | 4 Comments

Cruz de Alba, Tempranillo, Crianza, Ribera del Duero, Spain 2008

Posted on September 5, 2013 by waywardwine

APPEARANCE: Inky purple, paper thin clear rim, noticeable legs. AROMAS: Bold aromas of candied violet, black berry jam on burnt toast, orange zest, equal parts French and American oak lend a cigar and coconut face off. PALATE: Dry and dusty, … Continue reading →

Posted in EMPTIED BOTTLES, Red, Tempranillo | Tagged 2008, Aroma of wine, Crianza, Cruz de Alba, Oak, Ribera del Duero, Spain, Spanish wine, Tempranillo, wine, Wine tasting descriptors | Leave a comment

Torre Oria, TORREORIA, Brut, 100% Macabeo, Cava (Requena), Spain NV

Posted on June 21, 2013 by waywardwine

100% Macabeo, aka Macabeu, aka Viura (a player in the classic Cava triumvirate, alongside xarel-lo, perellada). Never tried it as a single varietal Brut. Rare for Spain. Tasted non-blind without food. Let’s see: It looks clear, with a medium minus … Continue reading →

Posted in Cava, EMPTIED BOTTLES, Sparkling | Tagged Brut, cava, Food, Green tea, Macabeo, macabeu, Matcha, perellada, Requena, Spain, Spanish wine, Sparkling wine, Tea, Viura, xarel-lo, Xarel·lo | 2 Comments

Grenache Blend, Cuvée de Peña, V.d.P. Pyrénées-Orientales FR 2008 3L

Posted on January 9, 2012 by waywardwine

While I wait for my wine to age in tank, it’s time to consider the world of boxes. While I recorded this, I found that Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate newsletter gave Cuvée de Peña’s 2009 Red a 90 point score … Continue reading →

Posted in EMPTIED BOTTLES, Grenache Blend, Red, TOOLS TOYS & TIPS | Tagged 3 litres, bag in box, box wine, Catalan, cuvee de pena, French wine, Poussez ici, Pyrénées-Orientales, Pyrenees, Robert Parker, Spain, Wine Advocate | 1 Comment

Cava, Dibon Brut Reserve, Catalunya, Spain NV

Posted on March 3, 2011 by waywardwine

Drink this Cava. Agricola Dibon has overseen an amusing sparkler that outpaces its price ($9-11) in quality. This sparkling wine comes from Vilafranca del Penedes: Spain’s sparkling homeland of Catalonia in the northeast. Their 75 hectares of trellised vines are … Continue reading →