Category Archives: Blends

L♥️ve Eruption🌋🍷

Know what’s been around as long as love? Volcanos. And much like a volcano, love can sit quietly patient until all the elements are in place and then…🌋

When I first saw this 2020 Eruption I was intrigued about the name – that’s some mighty hot stuff for a red blend. I discovered that it’s named for its terroir.

The Struggle is Real

Nuzzling into a remote eastern edge of High Valley, California, not far from a majestic, primordial cinder cone, the Volcano Ridge vineyard is a landscape of spectacular red volcanic soils with steep slopes. Originally planted in 2003 and 2004, the vineyard is home to a large number of varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre, Grenache and Zinfandel.
The rich yet coarse volcanic earth creates an environment for an excellent drainage system. Through sandy, pebbly soil, vines must struggle to find their way to water and nutrient sources. When vines struggle this way, the intensity of that struggle is reflected in the fruit’s structure, complexity, and concentration. These elements meld together to produce full-bodied, rich, flavorful wines.
Just like creating volcanic wine, love’s struggle, patience and kindness can be an essential element to cultivating true devotion and passion.

Eruption of Flavors

On the nose, this blend has a blackberry | blueberry vibe with hints of lilac and oak spice.

Deep ruby lusciousness cascaded into my glass bringing forth tastes of blackberry jam, stewed blueberry, a little sweet tobacco in the background, and a whisper of spice on the finish. It had that gravitas of a Cab with the jammy playfulness of a lush Zin and Petit Sirah. So much yum!

Conscious Couplings

Best pairings for this blend include:
◦ aged cheeses: gouda, gruyere, cheddar
◦ main attractions: lamb/ pork chops w/ fingerling potatoes, mushrooms
◦ steak, roasted root vegetables


Steer clear of lighter fare such as fish.

Winemaker’s notes – “The fruit for this blend was harvested in the early morning to maximize quality. The various components of our Eruption were fermented separately in small lots to enhance the varietal attributes needed to produce the perfect blend. This blend was then aged on both French and American Oak for 10 months for structure and character.”

No matter whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s, Galentine’s or Palentine’s – enjoy responsibly and let your love, and the wine, flow!

Cheers!😚🍷💋

©️Copyright. The Wine Student. 2025.

Hallowine Roundup ‘23!🎃🍷🩸

It’s a crisp October night. Candles lit, you nestle in with a great horror novel. The moon is full, suddenly there’s the sound of leaves rustling outside. You shake off the sensation of the hairs standing up on the back of your neck. It’s just
silly jitters.
And then you hear the scratching at the window…

One of my favorite Halloween novels is Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot. I also loved the classic 1979 film version to get my creep on and send shivers down my spine. The freaky glowing eyes, the glimpse of fangs in the moonlight, the creepy little kids wanting to come in and play, the slow creak of the rocking chair in the empty room upstairs. And that house.

Lore tells you never to invite a vampire inside your home. But these two are ok. Let them in.

Check out the video below for more spooky fun!👇

.

19 Crimes ~ Dracula🩸

With the cool glow-in-the-dark label, this red blend is something to sink your fangs into.
It’s a deep red velvet color as you pour it in the glass.

On the nose:
• black cherry
• spice

Flavor profile:
• bursts of dark cherry
• plum
• whisper of vanilla

Pairs well with:
• Roasted lamb or pork
• Hearty aged cheeses

$15.99

I paired mine with smoked gouda and prosciutto on pumpernickel toast points. Yum!

Not only does the label glow in the dark, it has a cool AR interactive feature that adds to the fun. Simply scan and enjoy. Check it out below!

2022 Steven Graf Bloody🩸

Organically grown in France’s Loire Valley, this Bloody wine is made from hand-harvested Grolleau grapes. Picking by hand is what can account for a higher price point. This is labour intensive work. Similar to Pinot Noir, this grape variety is thin-skinned, has fewer tannins, and is very susceptible to damage and disease. Extra care must be taken. Whole cluster fermentation is also used to impart more of a fruit forward quality and give a bright acidity on the palate.

The color is a bright, vibrant red as it pours. It seems to levitate just like Danny Glick floating to your window.

On the nose:
• blackberry
• cherry

Flavor profile:
• sour cherry ( a little like a Jolly Rancher)
• herbaceous
• earthy vibe

Pairs well with:
• Red peppers staked with goat cheese
• Grilled seasoned chicken
• Mild creamy cheeses
• Patè

$30.00

With the bright acidity of the wine, I paired with a hot creamy Gruyere cheese dip. So good!

Both wines are great choices to compliment lighter bites, and they’re lots of fun to dress up your Halloween table.👻🎃

It’s wise to be careful this time of year. But with these two wines, you’ll be sure to let the right one in.🧛🏻‍♂️

Cheers!🍷🩸

Copyright. The Wine Student. 2023

My Wild Irish Wine 🍷🍀🧝🏻‍♀️

With the luck o’ the Irish at yer back, may you find health, happiness and a pot of gold. Okay, that’s not really a blessing but a mashup of a few.

St. Patrick’s Day is a sure sign that spring is on its way. And spring is often viewed as a season of magic and alchemy. Wine is also a blend of magic and alchemy. Especially Irish wine.

Growing conditions in the Emerald Isle can pose many challenges to winemaking. And that’s where the magic comes in.

I first wrote about my quest for the 2015 Lusca Cab/Merlot in 2018 so this is a bit of a fun throwback.

Established in 2002 by fruit alchemist David LLewellyn, Lusca cultivates several varieties of grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, Dunkelfelder and Rondo – a grape that can heartily withstand Ireland’s damp, misty weather.

Click the video to learn more about Irish wine and how its made!👇🍀

A few years ago I was determined to find my little pot of gold, and I did. To read more about my search click here. Since then this lucky bottle has remained, relatively undisturbed, in my little cellar wine fridge. I hope it’s been enough to ensure its good condition. All told, it has aged about 9 years. I had many thoughts before opening: has it already peaked? Is it a delightful vinegar? But maybe luck would be on my side.

There was only one way to find out…

Time to release the wine!

To be safe, I decanted for about 2 hours. I wanted to let it open up as fully as possible to make a fair assessment. So how was it?

It didn’t turn to vinegar! I wasn’t as concerned about the wine as my storage. I don’t have a fancy wine cellar, and occasionally had to move the bottle around. I had been worried that after all this time, maybe some oxygen had gotten inside. But I was so happy that all seemed to be well. Magic!

It was a lighter bodied Cab/Merlot. I enjoyed delicate notes of blackberry, dried herbs, and a pleasant, earthy cedar undercurrent. I found myself swirling my glass often to coax out every essence. It had a clear, deep ruby color giving way to a slight brownish rim variation (the outer edge of the wine). This suggests aging of the wine. I didn’t notice any nutty or toffee flavors that indicate an oxidized wine.

As I tasted, I noticed the sun was shining – here in the Cleve we catch it while we can- so I bundled up, sipped my glass outside.

To find out more or to order a bottle visit: The Celtic Whiskey Shop & Wines on the Green. They are super friendly and helpful.

I send you all the blessings to have a safe, fun and magical St. Patrick’s Day! ✨

Sláinte!🍷🍀

TWS 2022 Hallowine Roundup!

“I don’t mind being locked in here, but at least leave me a corkscrew.”

– Natalie MacLean

In her book, Red, White and Drunk All Over, Canadian wine writer Natalie MacLean was referencing Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, The Cask of Amontillado. Essentially, it’s about a guy who gets fed up with a rival always insulting him so he creates a ruse to trap him, literally, in a catacombs cellar in search of a good glass of wine. I can see why the rival might fall for it. But this is a cautionary tale: never go on a drunken hunt for wine, especially if it leads you to a dank, musty, skull-filled cellar, lest you be shackled and bricked into a room. You’ll need more than a corkscrew, my friend.

And so, with the midnight hour close at hand, join me, as we descend into… the catacombs.

I know I left a great vintage down there, somewhere.

Check out the video for some Halloween fun!👇👻

💀2020 Pessimist by Daou Red Blend –

Judging by most of Poe’s writings, he seemed to be an eternal pessimist so this is choice is apropos.

A haunting blend of 62% Petit Sirah, 18% Zinfandel, 17% Syrah and 3% Lagrien.

🍇Tasting notes – Hints of black cherry on the nose, deep blood red in color, it tasted of ripe, smoldering fruit compote – rich blueberry, dark raspberry and blackberry. Whispers of spice lingered like an apparition, then evaporated on the finish. When paired with a creamy Brie, the fruity, jammy vibe was coaxed out. With cheddar, the jammyness gave way to a more subdued vibe. It had a rich mouthfeel with substantial legs. 15.2% alc.

$30.00💰💰

Rattling the bones here’s:

💀2020 Chronic Cellars Purple Paradise Red Blend –

Simple, tasty and bewitching, and, though similar, this blend turns the tables on the Pessimist with 70% Zinfandel, 16% Petit Sirah, 10% Syrah and 4% Grenache.

🍇Tasting Notes: Rich, creamy flavors of mocha chocolate, stewed blueberry and raspberry, with hushed whispers of leather, and smoked dark cocoa on the nose. Paired with a simple dish of pasta, olive oil, fresh parmesan and basil, the flavors settled in to a more savory, less fruit forward vibe. The color was deep purple burgundy, and mouthfeel wasn’t quite as full as the Pessimist – it had skeleton legs on the glass. 14.8% alc

$16.99💰

It’s interesting that these two wines, both Paso Robles, both similar in character and flavors, can have subtle, tasty differences.

Both wines had such beautiful, deep purply-red color that I know my teeth are purple.

So…

What is the difference between Petit Sirah and Syrah? According to Wine Spectator’s Dr. Vinny, Petit Sirah and Syrah (Shiraz) are two different types of grapes. Petit grapes are smaller in size than Syrah, and have a more dense skin-to-pulp ratio. This makes their color dark like ink, rich in flavor, and more tannic than Syrah. Small is mighty.

In this haunting season, please tread carefully. Beware the late night drunken scavenger hunt for the elusive vintage. And if anyone mentions a cask of Amontillado, run!

Have fun, be safe!🍷🎃

Happy Halloween!💀

©️Copyright. 2022 The Wine Student.

Snug as a Lady Bug🐞

“The Ladybug wears no disguises. She is just what she advertises. A speckled spectacle of spring, A fashion statement on the wing…. A miniature orange kite. A tiny dot-to-dot delight.”- J. Patrick Lewis

During the busy days of summer, it’s easy to forget the little things; a warm evening breeze, toes in the sand, glass of wine in your hand. If the past two years have taught us nothing else, it’s the simple pleasures that we need to pay attention to. Little things sometimes have the biggest impact.

Lady bugs are little, but they are mighty.

Farmers and gardeners love the lady bug. According to ThoughtCo.com, the lady bug (beetle) are beneficial predators who munch on many pests of the garden such as scale insects, whiteflies, mites and especially, aphids. Over the course of a day, a lady bug can scarf down 50 aphids, over a lifetime (about a year), they can consume over 5,000. They really are the ladies who lunch.

Too much of a good thing, though, can become a challenge for growers; an overpopulation can mean that many bugs can snuggle up in the fruit. And this can subsequently taint the wine if they’re not sorted out at pressing.

Searching for a nice light wine to pair with my evening chicken stir fry, I discovered this little but mighty gem: 2020 Malivoire Lady Bug. Located in Beamsville, ON, Malivoire is a Certified Sustainable winery. Made from a blend of 56% Cabernet Franc, 36% Gamay, 8% Pinot Noir, and cultivated especially for this wine, the grapes are harvested when sugars are at 19.5 Brix. The crushed grapes then soak in free-run juice ( juice that runs freely out of the tank by gravity) between two and twelve hours before press. After cold-fermentation and stabilization, the wine is transferred to stainless steel tanks to rest before bottling.

This lady bug had a surprising complexity, revealing different layers of flavor with each sip. Many single varietal roses are good but one-dimensional.

Check out the video below for more summer fun!🏖

Some tasting notes for ya!

• bright berry on the nose – flavors of red raspberry, strawberry,

• cherry, pomegranate – nice burst of tart flavor that sparkled down into a tangy tart that lingered on the finish.

• bouncy mouthfeel makes it great to sip on its own yet it paired beautifully with a gently spiced chicken stir fry with jasmine rice.

Recommended pairings:

Lighter meats such as:

• Butter Chicken

• Pork Roast

• Baked Ham

• Charcuterie

• Mussels

• White Bean Salad

•Available at LCBO – $17.99

Whether you’re sipping on a beach or dining al fresco with friends, please enjoy responsibly!

Cheers!🍷

©️Copyright. 2022 The Wine Student

Orange is the New White

A long time ago, when I worked as a bartender, I once served a wine that was orange.

It was not a design choice. It was just bad.

So when I saw that orange wine has been making a big splash, I was a little skeptical. Fool me once…

Orange wine is not made from oranges. It’s also not a rosé. It’s actually a natural white wine that gets its colour and flavor from keeping the white grape skins and seeds in contact with the juice for between 4-30 days. The orange colour comes, in part, from the lignin in grape seeds. The longer the contact, the deeper the colour. Most white wines have little to no skin contact.

In most wine production, seeds get discarded prior to any processing of the juice and fermentation. That’s because seed contact can make wine taste bitter. So how do orange wines stack up? Do they taste sour or bitter? It depends. While technically a white wine, orange wines are very dry and tannic, much like a bold red wine. Flavors are bold and brassy with aromas of honeyed jack fruit, sourdough, juniper (like gin), brazil nut, apricot, orange blossom, and bruised apple. They can be very intense on the palate with a sour vibe much like a fruit based beer.

What is jack fruit? I don’t know jack $&@! about jack fruit so I did a little research. When ripe, jack fruit has a strong aroma and tastes like tropical fruit: mango and pineapple, and banana.

Orange wine is not a new ‘oops’. It is an ancient process dating back roughly 5000 years. All elements were left to ferment for time in large buried clay vessels called quevri (kev-ree).

Check out the video below for a little summer fun!

Pairing:

Bold for bold, orange wines pair well with bold foods like curry and Moroccan dishes, Korean and traditional Japanese cuisine. Because of the high tannin, and hint of almond-like nuttiness, it can pair with beef and fish. This is something you can play around with to find your favorite.

It’s a white wine that thinks it’s a red so the pairings could be really colourful. But be careful of the spice quotient: it will bring out the heat in some dishes.🌶🌶🌶

If you’re looking for ‘grippier’ offerings with increased tannin, look for 30+ days of skin contact; fresher, lighter versions have maybe 4-10 days. Because they’re natural with little to no preservatives, drink within 2-3 days after opening. Store in cool, dark areas (between 50-60F). Serve chilled, at around 55-65F. If it’s too cold, you’ll lose the nuance of the flavors.

Look for wines from Italy, Solvenia, Australia, France, South Africa, Austria, and the US.

I recently tasted a 2021 Bonny Doon Vineyards Le Cigare Orange (California). It is the ‘skin-contact wine of the earth’ (says so right on the bottle) and is made from 10% Grenache, 80% Grenache Blanc and 10% Orange Muscat. It had a hint of orange blossom on the nose, and a sour, almond vibe on the palate with a dry, puckery, yet bouncy mouthfeel. Flavors of white peach, early-ripe apricot and citrus lingered on the finish.

It sells for $17.99

Here are three others that might float your boat:

• Cos Pithos Bianco (Italy) $27

• Attems Pinot Grigio Ramato (Italy) $20

• Field Recordings Skins (California) $24

I chose the Field Recordings Skins to share and here’s what we thought:

(Pairing with Thai food)

These orange wines restored my faith that not all orange wine is wine gone bad. And they can be very different than what you might be expecting. But isn’t that half the fun about summer wines ~ trying something new, refreshing and just a little bit different?

Cheers!

©️Copyright. The Wine Student. 2022.

Valentine’s Wines for 2022!❤️‍🔥

With this February being what it is, we probably want to be cozying up under a soft, warm blanket, with a fire or candle glowing and enjoying a glass or two of something nice.

The pickings this year were a little slim in terms of wines marketed specifically to Valentine’s Day. This could be due to the current and pervasive supply chain issues. Whatever the reason, I managed to find a couple that looked fun and holiday ready.

Check out the video I made for a little more info on these fun wines!❣️

Quinta De La Rosa 2017 douRosa Red Blend –

Made in the Douro region of Portugal, this is a luscious red blend from Portugal comprised of 35% Touriga Nacional, 35% Touriga Franca, and 30% Tinta Roriz grapes. Hand-picked and quietly left to mature for two years in stainless steel tanks, it is deep in color with an intense dark berry, blueberry vibe with both leathery and hint ‘o’ mint qualities. Younger wines have more of a violet vibe on the nose and they tend to have a dry and grippy mouthfeel due to bolder tannins.

The Douro region has a drier climate, with very warm summers. Because of an unusually dry, warm summer in 2017, harvest was a little early; mid – August, when the fruit was at its peak.

Tasting Notes:

• Deep ruby color – rich and clear – so beautiful in the glass

• Hints of violet (a soft, powdery raspberry vibe on the top) and caramel on the nose

• Dark, rich raspberry and blackberry w/a lush mouthfeel

• Medium tannin and mid-hi alcohol

• Paired beautifully with vegetarian pizza and fresh ripe blackberries

• Decant for at least an hour to open flavors

$19.99

Santero Villa Jolanda I Love You Extra Dry Spumante – This is one of the cutest damn bottles I’ve seen so far. Santero comes up with seasonal cool graphics; Halloween (which always sells out so I can never get my hands on one :/ ), Christmas, and Valentine’s Day.

That’s part of the reason to check it out, and as an affordable sparkler, this is a fun offering. Especially if you’ve spent some of your cash on flowers, chocolate, and dinner, it adds up. Your sparkling wine should never leave you with a negative balance. Some might disagree on that statement. And while it is true, the sky can be the limit on what you can pay for a beautiful sparkling wine, feel free to adjust your Valentine’s budget accordingly.

Tasting Notes:

• Light yellow straw color – lots of pretty bubbles

• Nice acidity, not too sweet

• Flavors of honeydew melon, pear, cream

• Lighter body, refreshing mouthfeel,

• No decanting needed (don’t want to lose those bubbles)

• Serve ice cold

• Pairs: Anything

• $15.99

I hope you all have a happy and safe Valentine’s Day!💝

Please enjoy responsibly, and if you can’t be the with wine you love, love the wine you’re with!🥰

Cheers!🍷🥂

©️Copyright, The Wine Student, 2022

Wines for Valentines: Sweet Dreams are Made of These

Who am I to disagree?

Since we’re all staying home right now, Valentine’s Day is going to be, well, a lot quieter. It can still be a sweet day, and I’m all for opening a little bottle to enjoy. And who better to share it with than you? From a distance.

Each Valentine’s I look for bottles that have some fun label art for the holiday. The art can be sweet or sassy, with word ‘love’ or maybe some hearts. This year, most wine companies are keeping things very simple – which makes sense right now. I did manage to discover two that were close to the theme and moderately priced: Love Noir and Red Head Red Blend.

Check out the video below!

Love Noir Pinot Noir 2018– Jammy, with flavors of cherry, and a whisper of espresso, this Pinot has some velvety texture to it. Still a relatively young Pinot, it’s lighter in both color, body and mouthfeel. Aging in American Oak, gives it just a hint of vanilla. And less time in a newer barrel gives it a less smokey or oak-y vibe. Because it’s younger, decanting is important here to bring out all the flavors. Pinots by nature are delicate wines, so you don’t want to cellar them too long.

Recommended pairing: roast pork, chicken artichoke flatbread. I’d throw chocolate anything in the mix for dessert.💋

Price point: $15.99

***

Red Head Red Blend – From L’uva Bella Winery in Lowellville, Ohio, this wine has flavors of bright cherry, blackberry, with a little tang of blueberry. This wine is a ruby color with good legs (meaning viscosity). First sip is a combo of sweet | tart which then settles into a spicy kiss on the finish. This combination makes it an interesting wine especially for those new to drinking red wine.

Again, decanting is important as this wine takes a little while for the flavors to unfold.

Pair it up with some assorted cheeses including spiced havarti and dark chocolate (with some spice) to bring out the heat.🔥

The $11.99 price point definitely makes it a great starter wine.

And I think they’ve changed their branding on this a little. It still has the cool art but it’s now just called ‘Red’.

Keeping things quiet is a good plan for Valentine’s Day this year. Open a bottle, gather your snacks and watch your favorite rom-com. And if you can’t be with all the ones you love, make sure to love the wine you’re with!♥️

Cheers!🍷💝💋

©️copyright 2021 TheWineStudent

Winey Friday: Curmudgeon Red Blend

The other day, I gently brushed off a favorite old collection of stories that I hadn’t seen in a while. The spine cracked open as a puff of dust billowed up. It revealed a tale of adventure and thirst. A thirst that could only be quenched by… wine. The name of this tome: my blog, The Wine Student.

If we’re speaking truths here, I haven’t been very motivated to write lately. With everything happening in the world, I’ve really only wanted to curl up under a blanket and not come out ‘til the coast is clear. And since I’m already in my stretchy pants and sweatshirt… also, I’m a little crabby. You might even say, a little curmudgeonly.

The other day, I found myself in the wine section of my local store (one of the few times I venture out) and I found myself just staring off into space for a split second. But what brought me back to earth was some of the label art in front of me. I started to see a theme: the label art was getting kinda dark.

But maybe it was just me…

And yet, the Curmudgeon spoke to me.
From Parlier, California, this Curmudgeon is actually a friendly blend of 42% Zinfandel, 32% Merlot, & 26% Petit Verdot. Fermented in stainless steel, then aged 3 months in Kentucky bourbon barrels, this wine smelled amazing right at the first pour. Wafting scents of vanilla, and caramel was a nice preview of coming attractions. I let it open up a bit to coax out the flavors of stewed blackberry, dark chocolate, caramel and a hint of smoky spice. Because of the high percentage of Zin in the mix, it was very fruit forward, jammy- a little sweet-ish, then settling into a nice dark, leathery chocolate earthiness.
While I didn’t pair it with anything except crackers – because I’m a curmudgeon today- it was a juicy, rich blend to take the chill off a cold day in January.

Price point was about $14.99

The upside lately – I’ve noticed that the days are gradually getting longer. Which is a wonderful sign. We’re headed in the right direction!

And you know what? I refuse to give in to the darkness. Better days are ahead. Even us curmudgeons have our moments of hope.

Cheers!

Copyright, TheWine Student, 2021

My 2020 Halloween Wine Picks!

Well look who’s ready for a Halloween at home! 🎃🧛🏻‍♀️🍷

With tricks and treats around the corner, this year, you want to stay extra safe. So wash your hands often, wear your mask, and don’t go near the woodshed that belongs to the creepy guy who lives at the end of the dark road…
Like downing one too many tequila shots, nothing good can come of it.

My Halloween this year consists of maybe making a candy chute for trick or treaters, and being distanced from friends and neighbors. But that’s ok. It’s where we’re all at right now.
And wine pairs well with pretty much everything this year has thrown at us.

So… without further delay…my All Hallows wine picks for this unprecedented year.🙃🍷

Click below to see the video👇 and then read the roundup beneath!

The Walking Dead Bloody Red Blend 2017

A very bright blend of 40% Merlot, 10% Malbec, 30% Cab Sauv and 20% Petit Verdot.
Tasting of cranberry, raspberry, and shining cherry, it was very bouncy in my skull goblet.
Aged 10 months in French and American Oak casks, there’s some good body yet it still retains it’s lip-smacking vibe. That is, if you have lips, some zombies, sadly, don’t.

It pairs well with dark meat turkey, which has a fattier component (this helps cut into the bright acidity of the wine), roasted pork, creamy cheeses, and in particular bleu cheese.

It’s a pretty good wine for $14.99, and it has a cool “Living Label” app you can download to watch the dead ‘rise’ on your bottle! Spooky fun!🧟‍♂️

Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel 2018

If you want a luscious, juicy red you can sink your teeth into, this is a great one.
Unleash the cork and you’ll find dark, rich notes of jammy blackberry, mocha, vanilla, and whispers of spice. This is from Lodi, which is known for its spooktacular Zins.

It pairs well with deviled eggs, sinful short ribs, and cheeses with deeper flavors like smoked gouda, and sharp cheddars.

You don’t need to bargain with the devil for this Zin, it’s a steal at $9.99.
Give it a little time in a decanter to really open up the vault of flavors. A treat indeed.

Whatever you find yourself enjoying this Halloween, please stay safe and don’t be afraid! It’s always darkest just before the dawn.💋

Cheers! 🎃🍷🧟‍♂️

©️copyright 2020 TheWineStudent