Wine Tips, Italian Chianti and California Sparkling

Chianti – Il Piaggione Chianti Classico Reserva - from Il Piaggione Estate in the Tuscany region of Italy near Florence. This moderate-bodied red wine is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes. Its flavor has hints of ripe cherries and plum with a light fruity aroma. It has a long and lingering finish. The tannins are light with balanced acidity.

Ready to drink now, it pairs exceptionally well with pasta dishes with red sauce. Try it also with lamb or with calf’s liver.

The Il Paggione Estate winery was founded in 1743 by Giuseppe Uzielli and has been family owned and operated for nearly three centuries.

PLCB product code is 24790 and is available at many PA Wine and Spirits stores for $13.99.

Korbel Sparkling- Brut Champagne - From the Russian River Valley, CA.   Korbel Brut Champagne is made in the traditional methode champenoise.  It is made from a blend of chardonnay, chenin blanc, French columbard and pinot noir.  Korbel Brut Champagne is “bright and crisp, with spicy fruit flavors ending with a medium-dry finish.”  It has a slightly yeasty aroma that does come across in the crisp flavor.  Dosage level is 1%.  It has 12.5% alcohol by volume.

The PLCB product code for the 750 ml bottle of this sparkling is 5943 and it is priced at $14.99  The 1.5 liter bottle of this sparkling is product code 6448 and is $26.99.

Several Korbel sparkling wines, with different levels of dryness, and made with different varieties of grapes, are widely available at PA Wine and Spirits stores, many at the $14.99 price.

Champagne is great any time, but try the Korbel Brut with chicken or fish or as a great accompaniment with light cheeses and fruit.  

Although true “Champagne” is only made in Champagne, France, Korbel was given special permission to continue calling their sparkling wines “Champagne” when other sparkling wines had to be referred to as “Sparkling”. 

Up-coming Events

Wines of the World

Thursday, April 29

A one night wine seminar at Montgomery County Community College's West Campus in Pottstown.

6:30 - 9:30 PM
$52 per person

Register ASAP by calling Lisa Miller at MCCC at 610-718-1861 by Wed 4 PM. 

Cinco de Mayo

Wednesday, May 5

Wines from Spain, Chile, and Argentina at the Gallery School of Pottstown.  Begins promptly at 6:30 PM. 

$45 per person

Register for Cinco De Mayo by going to the Gallery School's website.

American Wine Society Educational Foundation Benefit Tasting
Saturday September 18  

Wine and Appetizer Pairing, Perkiomen Valley Library, Schwenksville
Time and cost TBD
See more about the Perkiomen Chapter of AWS.

Mom's House
Benefit Wine Dinner

Saturday, October 23

Five course dinner, each course paired with a different wine.  Kimberton Arts Center  6:30 PM, $75 per person or $525 for a table of 8.  For more information about Mom's House, click HERE

This week’s Fun Fact

From “The Amazing Book of Useless Information”
The pressure in a bottle of Champagne is about 90 pounds per square inch.  That’s about  three times the pressure in car tires.