What wine did you have tonight?

Gabriel M.A. said:
A lot of Spanish wines were looked-down over here where I live (until about a few years ago), not only because they were in Spanish, but because they didn't ring bells like "Cabernet" and "Merlot". For a few years I could get cases for dirt cheap; spectacular wines, specially a Valdepeñas which is magnificent (and still relatively cheap). Far better than any Californian wine I've ever had, but still competing with some Australian reds.

Anyway, try a Crianza Rioja from "Tres Cáceres" (red label, not the white one), you'll be pleasantly surprised for under $9 --- Olé 😉
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Wow!! Sounds nice hearing good comments about spanish wines from overseas. This is a land with an old an important wine culture. For those of you interested in learnign (and trying) a few more, have a look at www.winesfromspain.com as a starting point.
My favourites are Rioja's and Ribera del Duero's wines, althought there are high quality ones in each 'denomination'.
I started appreciatting wine a few years ago, whilst living in Portugal (!!). My flat mate parents where in the wine business, so I had the chance to try quite a lot of wonderful types. So just my two cents for the portuguese wines too (my favs: Bairrada, Alentejo and Douro).

Gabriel: can't find reports on the "Tres Cáceres". Is not "Marqués de Cáceres"? Or perhaps it's an export label...

Anyway, enjoy wine and... "salud!!" (cheers!).
 
The origin of Zinfandel

The origin of Zinfandel

Athena
Tonight is a Zinfandel night.

Born of a grape which, like so many of us Americans, escaped from Europe of unknown and unloved heritage to become an ongoing success of ever greater sophistication and refinement.
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Zinfandel comes from Croatia. After decades of speculation, the origin of Zinfandel is now more history than mystery. The scientists from University of California and from Croatia have identified that Zinfandel and the grape the Italians call Primitivos (di Goia) are both Crljenak kaštelanski (also Pribidrag or Tribidrag), a grape variety from the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia. Crljenak kaštelanski is an old and almost forgotten indigenous Croatian variety. It has been on the edge of extinction. Fortunately, our winemakers have realized an inappreciable historical, cultural and economical value of Zinfandel’s ancestor and started to raise new wine yards (owing to a Croatian-American winemaker Mike Grgich).

A History of Zinfandel :
http://www.avenuevine.com/movabletype/archives/000285.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinfandel
 
Gabriel M.A.
A lot of Spanish wines were looked-down over here where I live (until about a few years ago), not only because they were in Spanish, but because they didn't ring bells like "Cabernet" and "Merlot". For a few years I could get cases for dirt cheap; spectacular wines, specially a Valdepeñas which is magnificent (and still relatively cheap). Far better than any Californian wine I've ever had, but still competing with some Australian reds.

Anyway, try a Crianza Rioja from "Tres Cáceres" (red label, not the white one), you'll be pleasantly surprised for under $9 --- Olé
Click to expand...

The same situation is here. We have over 80 autochthonous sorts of grapes (even Zinfandel, as I mentioned before) and many outstanding wines. Better for us Mediterraneans, at least we have both fantastic and affordable wines. 😀
Unfortunately our tuna fishes are not so lucky; the Japanese will eat them all for an unbelievable price. The dark side of globalisation… :bang:
 
Vjekoslav
Thanks for bringing me up to date on the zinfandel story. It was the first wine I ever drank.

Xmas is well over, but the wine continues tonight with Beaune Du Chateau 1997 a pefect match with my poulet basquaise for dinner. Looks like Rangefinders and wines go together well too.
Cheers
Steamer
 
Diomedes said:
Zinfandel comes from Croatia. After decades of speculation, the origin of Zinfandel is now more history than mystery. The scientists from University of California and from Croatia have identified that Zinfandel and the grape the Italians call Primitivos (di Goia) are both Crljenak kaštelanski (also Pribidrag or Tribidrag), a grape variety from the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia. Crljenak kaštelanski is an old and almost forgotten indigenous Croatian variety. It has been on the edge of extinction. Fortunately, our winemakers have realized an inappreciable historical, cultural and economical value of Zinfandel’s ancestor and started to raise new wine yards (owing to a Croatian-American winemaker Mike Grgich).

A History of Zinfandel :
http://www.avenuevine.com/movabletype/archives/000285.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinfandel
Click to expand...

Diomedes,

Yes I was fully aware of all the above when I first posted. But sometimes it remains more alluring to allude to the myth than to pendantically expose the reality. 😉

Oh, an long before Grgich, Zinfandel was a well-established grape-type in CA having been "discovered" by Italian immigrants in the 19th Century. It "arrived" in CA from cuttings that were brought from all over the Meditteranean to these early vinters. The fact that for years no one could identify the origins (it finally took DNA analyses) is what led to the "myth" which you so wanted to expose.

Oh, and my post was not intended to be an invitation for a display of ethnic boasting.
 
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Athena,

My intention was to bring an interesting story, not to invoke some ethnic spirits from the bottle of Zinfandel wine. In the matter of fact all ethnic boastings and problems in the last century came from the ale houses. 😉

The biggest curiosity and tragedy in that story is the fact that Zinfandel is the market leader in US. In the same side, due to historical and other unfortunate circumstances the Crljenak varietal is so limited in its propagation today in Croatia that no 100% Crljenak wine is made. The scientists have hardly found a couple of living specimens in one wine yard. As a big admirer of the cult surrounding Dionysus, I simply greet any attempt to revive and enrich the world with another variety, especially with that kind of pedigree. 😀

By the way, a half of my family from the Dalmatian coast and islands is living all over the globe (San Pedro CA, Pittsburgh, Auckland, Perth, Sidney, Toronto, Punta Arenas, Porvenir…).
 
Diomedes said:
Athena,

My intention was to bring an interesting story, not to invoke some ethnic spirits from the bottle of Zinfandel wine. In the matter of fact all ethnic boastings and problems in the last century came from the ale houses. 😉

The biggest curiosity and tragedy in that story is the fact that Zinfandel is the market leader in US. In the same side, due to historical and other unfortunate circumstances the Crljenak varietal is so limited in its propagation today in Croatia that no 100% Crljenak wine is made. The scientists have hardly found a couple of living specimens in one wine yard. As a big admirer of the cult surrounding Dionysus, I simply greet any attempt to revive and enrich the world with another variety, especially with that kind of pedigree. 😀

By the way, a half of my family from the Dalmatian coast and islands is living all over the globe (San Pedro CA, Pittsburgh, Auckland, Perth, Sidney, Toronto, Punta Arenas, Porvenir…).
Click to expand...
Ah Diomedes,

Then, truth be told, you agree with my original post?

Born of mysterious origins this fine grape, unloved and, in fact, all but unknown in its native land arrived in America to flourish within the multi-cultural diversity of the New World!

Spurned by its progenitors to near extinction, it has achieved respect and recognition through the careful nuturing of its New World saviors such that now, it has been able to return to its native soil.

Triumphant!

And also capable of delivering up to 15.5 degrees of alcohol while remaining capable of caressing and nuzzling the palate! 😉

Of course, this is a wine for US - your fellows in the Old World have too narrow of mind to open to the possibilities of a grape so fine and intriguing! 😛
 
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