Tasting - Dona Sol

Name: Dona Sol
Variety: Shiraz, Petite Syrah, Symphony
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: NA
Price: $15

Winery Review: Shiraz has a unique jammy fruit character that is well represented in our Sweet Red. Both on the nose and on the palate, jammy fruit, like strawberries, entices the senses to enjoy this wine with family and friends.

My Review: This red wine is sweet, and has a character of fruity juice. The presence of raspberry and strawberries enhance the taste of this wine. The first inspection smell is sweet, and personally, it is too sweet for my liking. However, it would definitely compliment a dessert dish well.

I did not consume any food with this wine.

Tasting - Avery Quinn

Name: Avery Quinn
Variety: Zinfandel
Region: California
Country: United States
Year: 2013
Price: $15

Winery Review: Just the thing for winter warming or summer cookouts, this is a classic California Zinfandel with plenty of body, richness, and fruit.  Aromas show briary dried red fruit - raspberry, cherry, and cranberry - with hints of chocolate and spice.  Juicy and fleshy on the palate with brambly fruit and plenty of pepper and spice.  Finishes juicy and easy and fun. - Chain Bridge Cellars

My Review: This red wine is dry, and it has a powerful smell. The taste, however, is very smooth. It definitely exposes the taste of fruits. The taste of raspberry and cranberry is subtle and gentle.

I did not consume any food with this wine.

Tasting - Finca del Castillo

Name: Finca del Castillo
Variety: Tempranillo
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2015
Price: $9

Winery Review: This fresh and fruity red wine has a flavor reminiscent of good Cotes du Rhone. Juicy and flavorful with hints of raspberry and strawberry; perfect for everyday drinking.

My Review: This red wine is dry and bitter, yet it has a delighting taste. It has a complex taste, and the flavor changes the longer it stays in your mouth. It even has a little hint of floral taste. There is also a fruity hint of raspberries.

I did not consume any food with this wine.

Tasting - Pieter Cruythoff

Name: Pieter Cruythoff
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Region: Riebeek
Country: South Africa
Year: 2015
Price: $9

Winery Review: A wonderful nose of bananas, oranges and melons jumps from the glass of this 100% Chenin Blanc, which is finished with a screw cap. Another great value from South Africa, this wine is medium-bodied, fresh, lively, and a terrific dry white to drink over the next year. - Wine Advocate

My Review: This wine is very dry, but exciting. The flavor is strong, and it also has a citrus flavor. I am unable to tell which citrus fruit exactly. The aroma is nice and pleasing, and the taste is gentle.

I did not consume this wine with any food.

Tasting - El Cortijillo

Name: El Cortijillo
Variety: Verdejo
Region: La Mancha
Country: Spain
Year: 2015
Price: $9

Winery Review: Mineral, peach and apple aromas are straightforward and mild. Citric acidity gives life to an otherwise soft palate, while flavors of nectarine and orange finish with a chalky feel. - Michael Schachner

My Review: The wine is just a little bitter, but the taste is more towards the sour side. After tasting wine, the citrus flavor is very noticeable, especially the taste of green apple. After drinking this wine, it leaves an acidic aftertaste.

I did not consume this wine with any food.

My Personal Experience with Wine prior to Geography of Wine Class:

My name is Yatharth Shukla, and I am currently a senior at Virginia Tech. I turned 21 four months ago, so I am still quite inexperienced with wine. Living in the town of Blacksburg, it is easier to get shots at the bars than go wine tasting to wine shops/restaurants. In addition, most college students know about boxed wines like Franzia, which students drink just to get intoxicated rather than enjoying the flavor. I was introduced to wine for the first time through my roommate's girlfriend.

She is from Chile, where drinking wine regularly is a very common thing. On her birthday, I tried Cabernet Sauvignon, which is a type of red wine that is bitter in taste. It also felt really dry. Surprisingly, I loved the taste of it. Since then, I have been a fan of dark red bitter wines. I tried going out of my comfort zone to try different types of wines.

I tried Moscato, which is usually accompanied with desserts. I didn't like it that much, and I soon came to a realization that I am not really fond of fruity sweet wines. I enjoy dark bitter wines, and I can say for certain that I prefer red wine over white wine. Through this class, I want to learn more about the different types of wines there are, and hopefully discover new types of wines that I enjoy to drink. Furthermore, it would be great to know the geography of wine and the journey it takes to get from the grapes on the vines to the glass in my hand.

-Yatharth Shukla