Find Yourself…And Your New Favorite Wine: Groupon Wine Club Month 1

Congratulations on embarking on this three-month wine journey! Get your corkscrew ready and we will prepare the bottles for you.

This month, your taste buds get the chance to travel to California with the most American of wines: Zinfandel. This Zin is done right and is true treat. In addition, you will take an Italian path less travelled with a lovely bottle of a 50/50 blend of refreshing Insolia and aromatic Viognier grapes. How are this month’s wines connected? They both promise satisfying oenophilic experiences that will either confirm what you think you like in wine or open your taste buds and other senses to a bigger (and quite wonderful) world of wines.

2007 Baglio di Pianetto Ficiligno, Sicily, Italy

Italian whites don’t get a lot of press, and when they do, one is more likely to hear about Frascati or Orvieto than Insolia or Viognier. However, here is a white wine that will likely change the way you think about Italian whites. Produced from vineyards at the Sicilian estate of Count Marzotto, the winemaker has captured the best assets of Insolia and Viognier grapes in this 50/50 blend noted for its excellent structure and fresh, crisp flavors. Look for floral notes and a citrusy or green apple sort of tartness. Its gorgeous nose is floral but also evoking sweet tropical fruit notes. This remarkably balanced wine pairs well with the delicate, sweet flavors of your favorite white fish but can also stand up to bolder seafood such as lobster or even wasabi-enhanced sushi.

2007 Victory Vineyards Zinfandel Parcel Thirty One

St. Helena, Napa Valley

If you are new to Zinfandel or one of its biggest fans, Parcel 31 from Victory Vineyards is considered the quintessential Zinfandel and is not to be missed. Victory Vineyards exploits old vines from three appellations to bring a gratifying complexity to this wine. With a bouquet of plum and cherry that are found in many good Zins, comes a spicier layer of white pepper and nuisances of charred oak. A 13-month aging in French oak barrels adds to this wine’s impressive body and intensity. This is a wonderful wine that can be enjoyed alone, with simple cheeses or paired with roast chicken, tapas sausages or even grilled meats.

 

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