Wine Tip - Carmenere and Viognier

Santa Helena Gran Reserva Carmenere 2007 from the Colchagua Valley in Chile, this dark red, full-bodied 100% Carmenere has rich aromas of ripe dark red fruits and a pleasant complexity with tannins that are still a little young.  We found it best to open this wine at least an hour before serving allowing the wine to open up and release the excellent flavors to help soften the tannins.  It has a long lasting finish.

The juice is kept in contact with the skins for a total of 25 days which explains the deep red color and tannins.  It is placed in oak barrels to undergo malolactic fermentation.  It is aged in both French and American oak barrels for one year then placed in bottles where it is aged for 6 months before being placed on the market.

This wine is great with hearty dishes and red meats.   Alcohol is 14% by volume. PLCB product code is 28775 and is available at many PA Wine and Spirit Stores for $11.99 a bottle.


Tabali Reserva Viognier 2008 from the Limari` Valley in Chile, this 100% Viognier is very light yellow in color.  It has “scents of vanilla, melon and pear” (the Denver Wine Press).  With light acidity it shows flavors of apricot and honey with just a hint of ginger.

The Tabali winery is located at the edge of the Valle de Encanto (the Enchanted Valley) where the area “owes a great deal of its mystical heritage to the”…“Molle and Daguta tribes.”  This area has weather very similar to the Mediterranean with cool summer temperatures that make it an excellent wine growing area.
The Tabali Reserva Viognier is unoaked and off-dry.  It is refreshing and a great “patio” wine for the summer.

 This wine pairs wonderfully with butter or cream sauces, curries, roasted pork or even lobster.  Alcohol is 13.5% by volume. PLCB product code is 22495 and is available at many PA Wine and Spirit stores for $9.99 a bottle.

 Up-coming Events

If you know of an up-coming local wine event, let us know and we will add it to our calendar.

Check out the Jazz coming to Pinnacle Ridge on May 16 and the
Summer Solstice Festival at Manatawny on June 19.

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  - There are more than 100 clones of Pinot Noir, more than any other grape.