One Year On- A year of the Grape Press

 

Hey Everyone,

So I have now come to the first year anniversary (well a bit past it) since I first posted. A lot changes in a year; graduation, and amazing summer in St. Andrews and the United States, time spent working in New York City and helping set up a new company in the Auld Grey Toon. Visa problems for myself - and it seems most of my friends and now I am at new heights in my wine experience. It has certainly been an interesting year for the Grape Press and myself.

I have been in South Africa now for 8 days and my experiences have been tremendous. I have seen the most beautiful landscapes I've ever laid eyes on, I've tasted some amazing food and meat some amazing people. My objective; to explore the wines of this country has been well under way for some time, with some exciting results. I have meat young, ambitious and energetic wine makers, old hands with tremendous experience and plenty of other characters in and around this great town of Stellenbosch.

The enthusiasm that these people breathe is infectious, and if you come to a wine farm ambivalent to the product, you will leave an hour later as devoted to the wines as the winemaker himself. It is easy to get caught up in things here in Stellenbosch; because everything about the place is emotive. Every night there is a carnival atmosphere in the town and you can't help but have fun. Beyond the streets of town there is the countryside where the most striking landscapes imaginable can stun you without fail every single day.

I for one am finding myself increasingly devoted to South Africa's wines and the people behind the bottles. There are stories here that ring true with everything I want wine to be. There is romance and there is love for the land as well as artistry and awareness. I know that wine, unlike any other product has a penchant for getting passion from it's devotees but there is an intensity in South Africa that vindicates my devotion to the subject. There are themes that are beyond my ability to vocalise so I will not attempt to do them justice, but suffice to say that they are as great as the Helderberg Mountains and as complex as the country's past.

I hope over the past year you have enjoyed my writing and I look forward to continuing in 2013 and into the future. To see the huge changes over the course of the year, I am filled with great hope to know that just as much can happen in the coming year. Tonight find a glass of something nice, be it wine, beer, juice (whatever!) and enjoy it. I'll be doing the same!

(As always) Much Love,

G

 

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Rioja- Blind Tasting

This week's wine to try is a bit different; in that it is four wines, tried blind by the St. Andrews Tasting Team.  Of course, the purpose of blind tasting is to contemplate the values of a wine without the prejudice brought on by labels, regions or varieties, and pass even judgement based upon your own tastes.  Alongside that aim, there is also the element of competition; trying to make a guess at what the wine is and where it comes from, which can make a blind tasting a thrilling experience.

Wines tasted included a 2007 Crianza by Marqués de Vitoria, La Vendimia 2010, a 2008 Crianza from Dinastía Vivanco, and a surprisingly youthful 1996 Gran Reserva, also by Marqués de Vitoria.  While I believe all the wines present had their merits, and all were well made, the star of the four seemed to be the cheapest; the 2008 Dinastía Vivanco.  It was oaky, fruity with a bit of spice and some rich, but soft tannins.

It was acidic enough to match with a rich meat dish, like a lamb steak or game, but also so pleasant I would happily drink it on its own.  Some of the other wines were not so fruity and friendly as this one, but with the exception of the first 2007 Crianza, all were enjoyable.

The Vendimia didn't hold up too well after having been open for very long; it became acidic and lost its fruity vibrancy, whereas the oldest of the four was surprisingly punchy with its fruit and had an overall balanced and pleasing character.

I think Rioja, while a spotty source for wines, is capable of producing wines of great value and character and the Dinastía Vivanco, despite it's slightly gimmicky bottle shape, is a testament to that potential.  At a mere £10 per bottle, its a classic, young, spicy Rioja displaying plenty of those tried and true Tempranillo characteristics.  It is oaky, but not overly so, and is just ever so pleasing.

Other wines to check out from Rioja will definitely include the 2005 Banda Roja and Banda Azul by Monte Haro, 2005 Viña Cubillo by R. Lopez, the 2001 Viña Tondonia for those looking to splash out a bit, and the Tondonia Rosé.

Hasta Luego,
George