Chug, Chug, Chug…

There are few things in life that can instantly lift any mood, brighten any day, and instantly make ya feel better. My dog is one thing. Wine is another. Mmm…wine.

I had the fun opportunity to hit up Dave’s Fresh Pasta in Davis Sq. for a unique wine tasting experience with Master Sommelier, Damon Ornowski. There are 174 Master Sommeliers in the world-wide with 106 being in the US. For the evening we were guided through Italy with Damon and noshed on some tasty food. Big ups to Christie for inviting me with her!

Dave’s is an awesome little store with fresh pasta, homemade sauces, yummy sandwiches, fresh fish, delish cheeses and TONS of fun food finds.

  
  
  

Unlike some other wine tasting I have been to, this was a stand up and listen format. I loved the intimacy of this tasting, but I wouldn’t have minded a chair.

Damon was introduced to the group and I instantly knew I was going to enjoy the whole night. I loved his approach to wine and his relaxed way. This was no wine snob, but a wine expert who loves to share his passion with others. Woot!

First up on the tasting menu…2009 Collepaglia Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi.

I’m typically not a big white wine drinker unless its really warm outside, but lately I’ve really been enjoying crisp, cold, delicate whites. This was right up my alley. At ~$15 this seemed to be a pretty good deal!

It was paired with a great shrimp salad with a nice light vinaigrette. Right on Dave’s. Right on.

Next up was the 2007 San Leonino Chianti Classico. Big cherry flavors that wasn’t too heavy, tasted great all on its own and got even better with food.

This was a classic Chianti, which I’m in lurve with, and most of us were fans. A few women didn’t like this one and I found myself questioning their sanity.

Definitely my fave!

This wine was paired with the ultimate Italian meal…pizza. Apparently I was a little hungry and forgot to snap a photo until I was almost done with my slice.

Our 2nd red in the group was the 2007 Lungarotti Rubesco Rosso di Torgiano. I wasn’t a huge fan of this Sangiovese and Canaiolo blend at first so I just let it sit in the glass. After a few minutes letting it breathe I was a much bigger fan. With food it was even better. The group used the best language of the night to describe this wine…”plush”, “silky”, and “ savory”. All things should be described in such a lovely way!

The food paired with this wine was the hit of the night for me. Exactly what Dave’s does best…pasta! The mushroom ragut was out of this world.

At this point I was starting to go into a food coma, but I came to when these lovely little bites come out to play.

That green stuff, which I kept calling pesto, was referred to as “salsa verde” straight out of Tuscany. A delish mix of parsley, egg, anchovy, capers and LOTS of garlic. I could bathe is this stuff. Seriously.

The next wine on the agenda was the 2008 Val di Suga Rosso di Montalcino. Of all of the the wines, this was my least favorite. It wasn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination, but wasn’t my fave either. It was described as having a “lollipop nose” and a “kool-aid type quality”. I’m  more of a chewy and spicy type of red drinker so this tart berry flavored wine just wasn’t making it for me.

The last wine of the night, 2004 Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino, just so happens to be one of Christie’s fave type of wine. Round, fruity (but not overly so), and with a nice weight in the mouth. This wine was a hit throughout the whole group.

I could feel her excitement! We stayed close to the refill bottle for this one!

 

This type of wine can age for 20-25 years. I have no idea how this works because the only time wine lasts for more than a month in my house is when I put it too far back in the pantry. Kidding…kind of.

For this wine, some MEAT was brought out. I did not partake, but I did enjoy watching everyone else gobble it down like it was their last supper.

I went the carbalicious route instead.

By the end of the night I was stuffed silly and had found a new wine to add to the collection.

My take homes for the night included:
-2 random wines to give a try
-1 2007 San Leonino Chianti Classico
-1 2009 Collepaglia Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi
-1 lb. of freshly made and cut black pepper pasta
-1 container gorgonzola cream sauce

Christie’s take home looked similar to this…heh.

The night was really fun and I learned quite a bit. I loved hearing an expert speak about wines in a way I could relate. I’ll leave you with some interesting wine tidbits and funny quotes from Damon throughout the night.

-Estimated that 97% of wines are meant to be consumed within 2 years and many within 6 months of bottling.
-To keep wines that are ok to be aged, a constantly cool place with humidity is needed. A wine fridge is great, but you can use your regular fridge too. Just stick a pot of water in there to provide the humidity!
-Red wine goes great with bitter and dark chocolate. Milk chocolate is too sugary to mix well!
-“The more writing on the back of the bottle, the less I want to buy it!”
-“I want to be the seducer. I want to burrow into the wine.”

Damon was a hoot and really a joy to listen to. If you are in the area and haven’t been to a Dave’s Fresh Pasta tasting, make a point to do so. It is certainly worth the money! Apparently they have cooking classes too!

I hope you all have a great weekend. As you read this wine recap I will be on the road with my pal, Karen, to hit up the big ol’ NYC for the weekend. Check back on Monday to find out more about our escapades! Next week will also include a new recipe, some outings during the week, and a look into some new jewels I am now the proud owner of.

PEACE OUT!