Wine Review: 2016 Kir Yianni Akakies Sparkling

I recently received two bottles of 2016 Kir Yianni Akakies Sparkling wine from Greece for a media review. I am a huge fan of wine's from Greece and was happy to find this special delivery.

The deep pink color and tiny bubbles is a welcomed sight as you pour a glass. You then pick up the scents of strawberries and cherries. The flavor is crisp and dry. There is a slight hint of sweetness with the first sip that lends itself to more complexity with each subsequent sip.

This wine pairs nicely with a wide variety of foods including Asian dishes and of course Mediterranean dishes. I choose to pair it with a lovely seared salmon with mashed potatoes and steam spinach. But you cannot go wrong with pork, spicy dishes or dishes that are vegetable based. Even on its own, the wine would be perfect to enjoy during a relaxing evening at home.

The 2016 Kir Yianna Akakies Sparkling is another example of a fine Greek wine and would be an excellent place to start your exploration of Greek wines.

*Disclaimer: The wine was sent for media review purposes but the review is strictly my own opinion.*

Wine Review: Antigal Uno Mendoza Malbec 2013 (Argentina)

It is time for another wine review. This time it is for the 2013 Antigal Uno Mendoza Malbec from Argentina. The first thing you notice is the stunning bottle. That alone will give you reason to pick it up and bring it home. Then you open the bottle and are greeted with the aromas of plums, blackberries and spice.

Pouring out a glass and you notice the bold, rich red color. Your first sip brings you flavors of plums, blackberries followed by the taste of cocoa and tobacco. The bold flavors pair perfectly with lamb chops, steak, pork or any wild game.

This is a high quality wine that comes in at a surprisingly low cost of about $18 a bottle. To find out more, please check out their site:

bodegaantigal.com

I received the bottle to review but the opinions are strictly my own.

Greek Wine Review: The Best Tasting Wines You Are Not Drinking!

A few weeks ago I was invited to Los Angeles for a Greek Wine tasting event. I never had the opportunity to try Greek wines before and was intrigued. Here is one of the oldest wine producing countries and yet I have never had a glass of Greek wine in my life.

What better place to try my first Greek wines than right here in California, home of Napa Valley and several other well known wine producing areas. How would the Greek wines compare with the California varieties?

Let's start with my favorite whites. All three of the above are from the Domaine Porto Carras, the largest organic vineyard in Greece. From left to right, the 2012 Melissanthi and the 2012 Assyrtiko are both minerally and refreshing. The 2013 Malagouzia was more fruity with a light melon finish. These were some of the cleanest, smoothest white wines I have ever experienced. I was very much surprised to find that all three are under $20 a bottle.

Next up are my favorite red wines. Starting once again from left to right, the Chateau Porto Carras was made up of a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Limnio. The Magnus Baccata is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. This has a fruity yet spicy taste with a hint of chocolate at the end. The Limnio is made entirely from the Limnio grape and had a lovely fruit and cinnamon taste. This proved to be my favorite and I will go into some of its history below.

This was my favorite of all the wines there. I love history and hearing the stories behind wines but this one was the most intriguing. This varietal was not only Plato's favorite but is mentioned by Aristotle in the Odyssey. I loved this varietal so much as well that I had to find where I could buy it in Orange County.

Here is the bottle of Limnio I purchased. The only place that carries it in Orange County is my favorite place to purchase wines or any alcohol for that matter, Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa.

All of these wines reminded me of our California varietals and as well they should. The region where Greece and California produce wines is nearly identical in latitudes and climates. Greek wines are beginning to take a foothold in restaurants and local wine shops across the country. Look to see if your local wine shop carries Greek wine and prepare yourself for a treat and quite possibly a new favorite or two.

Thumbs Up Wine Mobile App and Villa Alena Moscato d'Asti Review!

Are you one of those kind of people who stand in front of a large display of wine and wonder what you should you get? You look at all the bottles until you find a bottle and a price point that you like and that is the one you purchase? Well, the new Thumbs Up Wine Finder App is going to change all that! Take a look at the video below for a demo on how the app works!

It's literally that easy to use!

The app is available for both Android and iOS as a free version or a premium $4.99 version! In the free version you can search for wines while in a store or browse when you aren't. When you find a favorite you can save it and have it at your fingertips when you need a wine.

The search allows you to search for a wine by the store you are in, what you want to pair with it, pricepoint, country of origin and more! Once you have discovered a wine you like, you can take a look at it's rating (either two thumbs up or all the way to two thumbs down), tasting notes, suggested food pairings, value and the average retail price. The value is great because it tells you if the wine is worth more or less than it's suggested retail price. You will also find a summary of the wine, a video review for many of the wines, a place for you to rate the wine and an easy way to share the wine you find with friends! You can also see where to buy the wine and also see a great high resolution photo of the bottle to make it easier to find while at the store!

I was also sent a bottle of Villa Alena Moscato d'Asti to try. This wine is listed as two thumbs up on the app! I am a big fan of Moscato and couldn't believe that this wine costs only $7 a bottle or less but the value is listed as a $16 bottle of wine!

It is a delicious sweet wine that tastes like crisp apples with brown sugar. It tasted like Fall! I already saved it to my wine list on the app! Yes, it is that good! I checked and the app tells me that I can find it at Trader Joe's! You better believe that I will be on my way there soon to pick up another bottle or two!

Download the Thumbs Up Wine Finder App
iPhone
Android

 *Disclosure:  I was sent a bottle of wine and a premium download code to purchase the Thumbs Up Wine App. This is my personal opinion of the product.*

Wine Review: Sequin Wines Pinot Grigio and Rosé!

I had the privilege to review two wines from Sequin. They are part of a larger wine family called DFV Wines that have been producing wines for three generations now.

Sequin was launched in March of this year.  They produce three wines, a Moscato, a Pinot Grigio and a Rosé. I was generously sent a bottle of their Pinot Grigio and a bottle of their Rosé!

The bottles are very appealing and immediately give you the impression that they are a fun and bubbly wine!

Photo courtesy of Sequin Wines

The Pinot Grigio, or summer in a glass, as I like to call it, was nice and crisp with a blending of both pears and apples. A lightly sweet, refreshing, bubbly drink that I would pair with simple foods such as soft cheeses and nuts.

Photo courtesy of Sequin Wines

The Rosé was the second bottle that I was able to review. A delicate blending of lychee and strawberries make this a wonderful dessert wine. I love sweet wines and can see where some people may find this to be too sweet but it as perfect for me. This is the perfect glass to enjoy on it's own but I paired it quite nicely I might add with some grilled prawns and spinach dip.

Both wines were a very pleasant surprise especially because they come with an easy to twist off cap and not a cork. So they are easy to open and to enjoy!  They are a great value at $11.99 a bottle! If you visit the website you can find some great drink recipes!

Check out the website to get some great drink recipes:
http://www.sequinwines.com/