Fork and Cork Wine Festival

Blacksburg Fork and Cork, April 27, 2013

This weekend, I finally went out to Fork and Cork for the first time. I had a scheduling conflict last year but I was sure to clear my schedule for it this year. Not to mention I am hopefully getting credit for going in my geography of wine class. Blacksburg's Fork and Cork is their premier food, wine and art festival for the spring season. Unfortunately, the past two years it has rained on this lovely outdoor festival, but it wasn't so bad this year. 

Upon arrival to the festival, only then did I realize the size of this event. There were so many people! The lady at the front told us that they had sold out of all their walk up tickets. Lucky for me and my friends, we got ours from Kroger earlier that week. So one inside the area, we decided to do what everyone else was doing; take our brand new wine glasses to the shortest wine tasting line we could see. 

Before

Wine Tastings

-Attimo Winery

This was the first line we hoped in to. We tried all the wines they were offering tastes of and had a nice chat about them with the pourer. 

The first wine we tasted was called Sonnet 98. The gentleman pouring told us that it was a sweet, crisp wine and it definitely was. It was full of floral smells and flavors; a nice way to start off the day of tasting. It was only slightly fruity. 

The next wine he poured for us was the Just Kissed. It was a semi-dry wine, compared to the previous one poured, with flavors of raspberries and strawberries. It was a very delightful wine. 

Following that, we tried the Off the Cuff. It was very light, sweet and a bit fruity. Quite refreshing overall.

The last wine from Attimo Winery we tried was the Bullfrog Symphony. This was a Bordeaux style blend that my friends weren't the biggest fans of because of how dry it was. I enjoyed the peppery tastes and the good balance of it overall. Probably my favorite wine I tried from Attimo.

-AmRhein's Wine Cellar
This was the second line we hopped in after running into a friend who had just bought a bottle of something called Seduction. The label looked interesting and the girl told us it was worth the stop, so we followed in awaiting our turn. We were apparently in the dessert wine line, because those were the only ones we were given to taste, whereas next to us they were tasting completely different wines. That didn't make me very happy. That is until I was poured the first wine in the sequence.
I was given a sample of Vin de Peche. It was a peach wine that was just yummy. Full of sweet peachy flavor and just so utterly refreshing. It was amazing. I loved it so much, I bought a bottle for us to share during the festival. However it did have some competition.
The next wine I sampled was called Ruby. It was a red wine blend was flavors of red raspberries and sweet chocolate. It was an extraordinary wine. I had never tried anything like it before. I might have bought a bottle of Ruby had I not already planned to but a bottle to open up and drink around the festival. Ruby was not for that. It was meant to be enjoyed as a dessert after a yummy meal. So I bought the Vin de Peche instead and had no regrets.

-Veritas
I made it a point to head straight to Veritas because I just had to try out their wines! Their stylish, narrow dessert wine bottles torture me every time I am at the Vintage Cellar for a wine tasting; which is basically every week. If they were so darned expensive or if maybe I had a job, I would have been forced to buy the bottle just so I could know what was in the pretty bottle. Unfortunately, they were not giving tastings of that particular wine.
Sauvignon Blanc 2012 - This was a very light and fruity wine. It had flavors of lemon and very crisp fruits. It was very refreshing, especially since at that time I had been walking around for quite sometime and needed a pick-me-up.
Saddleback Chardonnay 2012 - This wasn't the best chardonnay ever. In fact I found it rather average. There were flavors of apple and pear. It was almost as sweet as the previous wine. Not too much flavor other than that. I am reading that it was aged in a neutral French oak barrel so that explains the lack of oak flavors. Honestly it could have used an infusion of flavor from a barrel though.
Viognier 2012 - This one was a little less sweet. Nothing too memorable from this wine. It was nice and crisp from its acidity. Fruity flavors were evident. Like I said, kind of boring.
White Star - This is where things got interesting. This wine had an array of different fruity flavors. It was less sweet so the nice crisp acidity was not compromised. It was definitely something I enjoyed.

I see that I have done more than seven wines. I think I will stop there. Plus I feel bad not having such a great memory of all of them and would not want to bore you. I would like to discuss my favorite wine and the food pairing I did with it.

Now this might sound strange, but I needed something to wash down the food with. One of our very own West End chefs gave a demonstration on what he called "truck foods". These are like to trucks that serve fast food on the side of the road. Well I was able to get a sample of one of his pork belly sandwiches and can I tell you it was amazing! He pan seared the fresh pork bell, added some made from scratch spicy mayonnaise, topped it with some bbq sauce and a few slices of cabbage, all on a sweet bun. It was Heaven in a few bites. I paired it with the one bottle I had bought, the Vin de Peche. It was actually quite good. The wine eased the pain from the spicy mayonnaise, which I don't typically like but loved on this sandwich. Its fruitiness was also very enjoyable when cleansing my palate after each bite. The wine wasn't much affected by the food. All in all, a great snack at the festival.

Now to say why the Vin de Peche was my favorite. Mainly because of how different it was. It was made from peaches and it was almost like a fruit juice. The alcohol content wasn't overbearing and the sweetness was balanced by the crispness. It was a great wine to sip on between tastings and I shared it with almost every friend I ran into. I call that a good wine!

After

Dinner - Palisades (Rose Blend)

Welcome to the Palisades!

The Palisades is located in what seems like the middle of nowhere, where you turn around this one bend after a bridge and POOF... there appears this little gravel road with this tiny shop, a church and a few homes on it. As you can see from the photo above, the Palisades is located in a very old building which used to be a general store during the 1920's. I wish I had taken actual interior photos of this place, but I was distracted by the food and alcohol. 

Every Thursday, the restaurant hosts a petite wine pairing in which they pair three wines to three appetizers. I have a few friends who had already been to one of the pairings and loved it. They loved it so much, you will see them sitting next to me when I went there this past Thursday. The pairing is called Wines Around the World and the theme of this week was Rose Blends. 

Complimentary Fruit Smoothie

As soon as we ordered the pairing dinner, we were met with the chef's complimentary fruit smoothie shooter. It was a small glass of banana, coconut and lime blend and it was quite exciting and refreshing. It was yummy but in a very strange way. The flavors of the fruit did not blend together but stand out separately on their own. Oh and yes, I did just analyze my tiny free smoothie in a wine blog. I couldn't help it.

The Menu

Left to Right: Ceviche, rhubarb and beef

On to the good part. In store for us that night were three rose wines: Vera Vinho Verde 2011 from Portugal, De Morgenzan DMZ Cabernet Rose 2012 from South Africa and Lovingston Rose 2011 from Virginia. As for the appetizers, we had beef tenderloin with a spicy strawberry sauce, scallop and almond cevicge with grapefruit and abraised rhubarb with vanilla. Now I would like to point out early that I did not eat the ceviche because I am allergic to scallops, so to be sure I paired the wine three foods, I order the border spring lamb with spring pea gnocchi, baby carrots and maiitake mushrooms (See below). It was AMAZING. 

The Wines 

Left to Right: Vera Vinho Verde, DMZ Cab Rose and Lovingston Rose

Vera Vinho Verde 2011 (Portugal):

-Palisades Description

This is a fizzy lifter! Vinho Verde flaunts a touch of sparkle that makes them among the cheeriest wines in existence. But for a green wine, this is surely dark. That's because Vinhao is a teinturier, a grape with dark flesh. Despite the color, the wine is light and zippy, with dried cherries, cranberries, and even a touch of pomegranate that make this a good pair with chicken pilaf, gazpacho or the Park on a warm afternoon. Vera's white Vinho Verde has been a great favorite at Pour, and their rose is sure to follow suit!

-Personal Description

This wine is very fizzy, sharp and acidic. There are hints of berries which gives it a sweetness. Overall, it is very refreshing, crisp and delightful. A very different wine than I am used to because of how fizzy it is due to the acidity. It makes it very fun. 

With the beef tenderloin, the acidity wasn't as overbearing. It definitely calmed down. It was also a bit of a surprise how nicely it went with the beef. I guess it was because of the strawberry sauce on top that went well with the fruity aspects of the wine. With the braised rhubarb, the acidity was also softened and the contrast in sweetness between the two made the wine seem less sweet. With the lamb, one word comes to mind; beautiful. It brings out the gamy flavors of the lamb and also emphasizes the saltiness of it. 

De Morgenzon DMZ Cabernet Rose 2012 (South Africa)

-Palisades Description

This aromatic Sauvignon Blanc gives away to a zesty palate of citrus fruit backed by an herbal edge. It is a crowd pleasing rose displaying alluring aromas and juicy flavors of pomegranate, watermelon and strawberries, accented with delicate floral and spice hints. A brisk acidity combines with a graceful minerality to round out the lengthy finish. 

-Personal Description 

This wine was a bit drier than the previous one and had a nice array of fruity flavors. It was cool and refreshing, mainly due to it being chilled. There was little to no acidity evident however it seemed to possibly be a bit stronger in alcohol content. The liquid was soft on the tongue, making me think that there was a mineral component as mentioned in the Palisades description. 

With the beef, the spiciness in the strawberry sauce was brought out in a delightful way. The beef also lessened the heat from the wine. With the rhubarb, it did the same, however the fruity flavors in the wine were diminished. With the lamb, the wine greatly improved. The fruit is more evident and the mix of flavors makes it all more entertaining on the palate. 

Lovingston Rose 2011 (Virginia) 

-Palisades Description (I'm pretty sure they messed up some of their descriptions but this is what was written under this wine, sorry)

This youthful and expressive wine comes from young vines in De Morgenzon's own estate, grown on its weathered granite soils. Hand-picked, the grapes are then fermented in stainless steel, before transfer to French oak barrels for 11 months maturation. An abundance of bright and youthful plum and berry fruit is the main feature, surrounded by touches of violet, cinnamon and vanilla. Rounded and supple in texture. 

-Personal Description

This wine was semi-dry and had some flavors of big red fruits. There was also a hint of licorice. Online it says that this wine is made from 85% merlot and 15% cabernet franc. I can definitely taste some characteristics from these grapes that show up in their red wine counterpart. By far, my favorite wine of the night. 

With the beef, it improves on the flavor of the red meat. Because it has a similar taste to the red wine, it pairs with red meat like it as well. It does however overshadow the strawberry sauce. 

With the rhubarb, the wine also overshadows much of the sweet tastes imparted from the rhubarb. In fact, the two are just complete opposites and I would not recommend pairing them again. With the lamb, it was a bit strange in that it gave the lamb and odd taste. I think more of the licorice came out and lessened the lamb flavor. Definitely better with the beef than the lamb. 

Overall

 I loved the experience. Traveling out to the Palisades and enjoying a meal with friends was a lot of fun. The food there is wonderful, however I was informed they have had better wine pairing appetizers in the past. It was a little disappointed that one, I was allergic to the seafood ceviche and didn't get to try it, and two, that my nose was so stuffed up, I couldn't very well detect in aromas in the wine. I am so glad I ordered the lamb to make up the third food to pair with the wines. The rose demonstration was quite fun as well. I have only had a few roses and none of them have been anything similar to the three I tried this night. I didn't know that a rose could be very similar, if not a tamer version of a full bodied red wine. I recommend driving out to the Palisades and trying it out for yourself. 

Salude!

Tasting Caprice de Bastor

Name:           Caprice de Bastor - Lamontagne

Varietal:         Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle

Region:          Saunternes 

Country:        France

Year:             2004

Price:            $7.95

Online Review:

Very clean, with lemon, mineral and honey aromas that follow through to a medium body. Shows vanilla, apple and melon flavors, with a medium finish. Lightly sweet.

- Winemaker Notes

Personal Review:
The nose was very sweet with lemon and honey. The taste was tart apple and honey. This was very different from what I have every had and it made for and interesting tasting. It finished with a nice vanilla end.

Tasting - Torre Castillo Alegre

Name:           Torre Castillo Alegre 

Varietal:         Monastrell

Region:          Jumila

Country:        Spain

Year:             2010

Price:            $9.95

Online Review:

Made from 100% Monastrell (Mourvedre) with a selection of the oldest vines. Manual harvest. The grapes are picked at their full maturation. Aged for 4 months in new American oak barrels. Slight filtration.
Intense ruby color. The nose offers distinctive ripe fruit aromas. Round and rich in the mouth with blackberry flavors intertwined with soft spicy and toasty notes. Powerful tannins that will soften after a few years of cellaring.- Winemaker Notes

Personal Review:
This had an interesting nose. It smelled of jam and dried fruit like plums and dates. It was a very strong aroma. The taste was very jammy and lots of licorice. The berry fruits came out and a smokey aspect was apparent.

Tasting - Wilson Daniels Merlot

Name:           Wilson Daniels Merlot

Varietal:         Merlot

Region:          Central Coast, California

Country:        USA

Year:             2010

Price:            $7.95

Online Review:

The nose offers ripe, slightly earthy, dark cherry fruit mingled with appealing milk chocolate, vanilla and light herbal notes. Juicy and succulent on the palate, the wine’s rich black cherry, dark plum and cassis flavors marry with a pleasing roasted tone, leading to a long, fruitful, chocolaty finish. Perfectly balanced, with round, supple tannins, our 2010 Merlot will be delicious over the next three to four years with rich poultry, duck, game and beef dishes, as well as mildly spiced red sauce pastas.

- Winemaker Notes

Personal Review:
The nose on this one was full of big red fruit and berries. The taste was very berry light the nose with hints of vanilla. It was very toasty and semi-dry. Definitely a good wine for the price.

Tasting - Tati Rose

Name:            Bricco Dei Tati Rose

Varietal:         Barbera

Region:          Langhe

Country:        Italy

Year:             2012

Price:            $6.95

Online Review:

Fresh with aromas of strawberries, cherries and rose petals. This is ideal with shellfish, salads, chicken, and with appetizers.

- Winemaker Notes

Personal Review:
The nose was very, very fruity. The taste was very flowery, like drinking water with flower petals soaked in it. It also had a nice acidic component to it with a hint of fruity flavors mixed in.

Tasting - Smoking Loon

Name:            Smoking Loon Sauvignon Blanc

Varietal:         Sauvignon Blanc

Region:          California

Country:        USA

Year:             2009

Price:            $7.95

Online Review:

This bleached blonde beauty is reminiscent of fresh green apples, pineapple and has hints of hibiscus blossoms. The concentration of zesty lemon and gooseberry fills your mouth leaving notes of thyme and melon behind. The bright acid in this wine gives you a zing while the fruit keeps your mouth watering for more.
- Winemaker's Notes

Personal Review:
The nose on this was full of fruits and flowers. The taste was fruity with a hint of a melon finish. It was very light and refreshing, and thankfully not overly acidic. That would have just ruined the balance.

Tasting - Castle Rock Syrah

Name:            Gnarly Head Pinot Noir

Varietal:         Pinot Noir

Region:          Manteca, California

Country:        USA

Year:             2011

Price:            $8.00

Online Review:

This wine is medium-bodied and deep ruby red in color. It is well balanced, ripe and spicy, and offers complex, concentrated flavors of dark ripe fruits, smoke and black pepper. The finish is long lasting and harmonious with lingering spice nuances. It makes an ideal accompaniment to a variety of red meat dishes, pasta or cheese, and it pairs well with most spicy foods.

- Winemaker Notes

Personal Review:
This wine is 14.5% alcohol and you can definitely tell it is strong from the smell. The taste is pretty dry but it doesn't take away from the flavor. There is a spiciness to it and definitely a dark fruit component like a black berry. The fruit sits on the tongue for a nice after palate.

Tasting - Gnarly Head Pinot Noir

Name:            Gnarly Head Pinot Noir

Varietal:         Pinot Noir

Region:          Manteca, California

Country:        USA

Year:             2011

Price:            $8.00

Online Review:

Gnarly Head Pinot Grigio is crafted for the adventurous—boldly fruit-driven, with bright flavors and zesty acidity. Our winemakers carefully select grapes from California’s finest growing regions, choosing only the best fruit. Gnarly Pinot Grigio proves that white wine can be bold and racy. It’s a refreshing, mouthwatering wine with bright acidity and mineral notes, the perfect sipper for every occasion.

Totally refreshing, Gnarly Pinot Grigio offers aromas and flavors of citrus blossom and honeysuckle, followed by Meyer lemon, honeydew and white nectarine. Pop open a bottle…Gnarly Pinot Grigio rocks on its own or with hot and spicy Asian dishes. Kung Pao!

- Winemaker Notes

Personal Review:

When I first opened this bottle, the entire room started to smell like fresh baked bread within seconds. It was quite a feat. I am tasting it again after it has been opened and capped for a few days so now the nose has more of a fruity grape juice smell. This wine has actually gotten a bit more acidic surprisingly, since I opened it the first time. When I tried it after opening, it tasted like fresh baked break and had a drier taste to it. To be honest I liked this wine a lot better after first opening it.