CHENIN BLANC BATTLE: France vs South Africa

BARRAMUNDAYS WINE & VINYL

Tonight we taste the Chenin Blanc grape, expressed in two very different ways: as Vouvray from the Loire Valley, and a new world wine from South Africa, sometimes called Steen.

Climate, soil, and wine-making style make a great difference in how the wine turns out. The climate of a wine region will largely dictate whether Chenin blanc is produced in a predominately sweet or dry manner, while the vineyard soil type will generally influence the overall style of the wine. These factors combined with its natural high acidity can create wines can range from the dry sparkling Cremant de Loire to dry and off-dry styles, found in Anjou and the Loire Valley, respectively. Chenin blanc makes for intense, viscous desert wines as well, due to the development of Botrytis cinerea (noble rot). In addition, lower fermentation temperatures used in New World wines bring out tropical fruit flavors and aromas, as opposed to the warmer fermentation practices in France.


French Vouvray vs South African Chenin Blanc
Tonight!


With DJ Ilmo spinning Eclectic Lounge. Cheese by Saxelby's.


at Barramundi
67 Clinton St
NYC

Chardonnay Smackdown: America vs France

BARRAMUNDAYS WINE & VINYL
A classic grape two ways.. blind!


Two themes pop up at Wine & Vinyl time and time again: Terroir, and "Taste".

CHABLIS
Simply described, terroir is the sense of place expressed through the wine as a result of where the grapes are grown- the soil, the air (sea breezes, for example), and the other flora grown in the area,(eucalyptus, mint, different types of flowers, etc). These influences sometimes combine to create a wine with its own signature, so to speak, and that's how the French like it!

CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAY
Theme number two is all about "Taste": not as in who is classy/who is trashy! More like flavor profile, as in what do Americans like to drink? Do we prefer big fruit bombs with high alcohol, and lower acidity/tannin as so many in the wine industry believe? And so what if we do?! Here we will be looking for the influence of oak, (the chablis has none), and the difference in style overall.


Both 100% Chardonnay, tonight it's a Blind Battle between France's flinty Chablis and our creamy, oaky Californian.

But if you think you can call this one, think again..

Tonight, with tunes by DJ Ilmo,.cheese by Saxelby's
At Barramundi
67 Clinton St
NYC