Epicuro Nero d' Avola

I cannot tell you how much I love this wine! A big red for a small price- $5.99 at Trader Joes.  I could happily drink this wine out of Sicily daily as it embodies what I love in a wine: full bodied, fruity, dry and elegantly smooth! 

Bottle says:  Made only with the Nero d’Avola grapes, this is a great wine with a beautiful rich, bright garnered colour and full bouquet redolent of berries, cherries and spices. The flavor is clear-cut, full-bodied and elegant. Perfect with grilled red meats and game. Serve at 18 degrees Celsius.”

Souverain of Alexander Valley California, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Understand, I drink cheap wine from Trader Joes. Generally wines priced between $7-13. Matt picked out this wine the other day at a wine store chain here in Minnesota called Haskells. Normally priced $20 it was on sale for $10. I didn't didn't think too much of it, that is until we drank it. I would have to say it is the best wine I have ever had. Smooth, full bodied, with a perfect finish. In fact the best word I would give to describe this wine is "elegant." If you see it buy in bulk!

Israel's Ben Ami Cabernet

I have wanted to try an Israeli wine for a long time so for my birthday last week I picked out this wine, Ben Ami Cabernet Sauvignon 2007. The wine label says:

"This wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, grapes from the Judean Hills and coastal plains give rounded fruit flavors, balanced by the firm structure and intensity of fruit from the Upper Galilee. The wine was aged eight months in American oak. Made in the "new world" style, it is enjoyable now but will improve with age."

My description is much simpler- a good wine, very smooth, would definitely buy again.

Joao Portugal Ramos "Loios" Tinto 2008

Here is a Portuguese wine my husband picked up from our local wine store over the weekend. The last Portuguese wine we got there we really enjoyed so I was delighted he brought home another. This wine turned out to be another great one to add to our collection of favorites. It is described as having a "fresh and intensely fruity aroma with vegetal undertones. Soft and easy, nice length." I would only one more word to the description: smooth! If you run across this one at your local wine store definitely pick one up.

Georgia's "Teliani Valley Saperavi Red Dry"

Matt and I stumbled across this wine the other day at a grocery store in the city center and mistook it for Israeli wine so we excitedly bought it. After drinking it over the weekend and enjoying it so much I thought I should add it to my blog. It wasn't until I looked it up for this post that I realized it is Georgian in origin. I didn't know wine could be produced from that part of the world. Here is what the wine's website has to say about this wine:

"This beautiful, powerful saperavi offers aromas of black cherry and cassis, followed by full, ripe fruit flavors and a hint of spiced Oak. The tannins are ripe and integrate a generous dose of cedar and vanilla that fans out in the finish. Enjoy this powerful wine with barbecue."

I found it to be a nice, full bodied dry red which is what I really like. I don't know how much Georgia exports their wines but if you come across it you should definitely try it.

Wines of Chianti

My husband and I took my mother in law to Tuscany last week where we spent 5 days driving around Chianti wine country. Wines from this region of Italy are my absolute favorite. While there we stopped at a number of beautiful vineyards where we partook in wine and olive oil tastings. We tasted a number of Chianti Classicos, Chianti Riservas, and Super Tuscans. My favorite was the Classico followed by the Super Tuscan. Whenever I buy wine at a store or a restaurant I always look for the Chiantis first. Its always good but there is nothing like drinking it in Italy while overlooking the vineyards, the huge Tuscan villas, and the Tuscan countryside- bellissimo!

Portugal's "Altano Tinto 2006 Douro DOC" Wine

At the end of last year my husband and I visited Portugal where we went to a free wine tasting center in Lisbon's city center. The wine center showcases Portugal's wines and wine areas, changing them out every few weeks. Even though Portugal is the world's 7th largest wine producer this was the first time we had ever had Portuguese wine. While there we each tasted 6 different wines. They were okay but nothing I would go out and buy. At the wine store the other day we were surprised to see a few Portuguese wines and excitedly bought one. We did not recognize any and settled on this Altano Tinto Douro DOC 2006 from the Symington Family Estates. Here is the description:

"This wine comes from the Douro Valley vineyards of Northern Portugal and is produced from the Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca varietals. The first provides intense ripe berry flavours and the second, lifted floral aromas."

This is a great tasting and affordably priced wine. We will definitely buy it again. Keep your eyes peeled for it the next time you visit your favorite wine shop.

Malta's "La Valettte Rouge" Wine

My husband and I love wine so on our recent trip to Malta we of course tried a few of the local wines produced on the island. Our favorite was a wine called "La Valette Rouge." It is described as "a medium-bodied blend of noble grape varieties with a spicy aroma and a pleasant fruity palate, the ideal accompaniment to traditional Maltese dishes such as rabbit and beef stews." Due to the great taste and great price of this wine we bought a few bottles at the duty free shop in the Malta airport to take home with us. I am not sure if Malta is a big exporter of wine but if you can't find it at your favorite wine store you can have it shipped to you from the winery which produces it, Marsovin.