The Event: Lunch paired with a range of Bodega Volcanes de Chile with winemaker Maria del Pilar Diaz and Woodman Wines and Spirits, the agency.

The Date and Time: Thursday, September 4, 2014  11:30AM to 3PM

The Event: Lunch paired with a range of Bodega Volcanes de Chile with winemaker Maria del Pilar Diaz and Woodman Wines and Spirits, the agency.

The Venue: Spoke Club, King Street

The Target Audience: wine media

The Availability/Catalogue: five of the wines we tasted were at LCBO or upcoming Vintages, others were private orders and barrel samples.

The Quote/Background: Maria spoke on newly emerging Chilean regions such as Bio Bio and Leyda, as well as talking about her vineyards' drainage soils, which are mainly volcanic with moisture retention that can withstand higher temperatures. There was more, also found at www.volcanesdechile.com. Maria commented on the wines in turn while we tasted, and then on the food pairings while we ate with wine seconds.

The Wines:

 

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Bodegas Volcanes de Chile Pomerape Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Leyda, 13.5% ABV, Vintages +371138, $14.95

-Bodegas Volcanes de Chile Tectonia Grenache-Petite Sirah-Mourvedre 2011, 14.5% ABV, Vintages +389668, $17.95

-Bodegas Volcanes de Chile Petit Verdot-Petite Sirah 2013, barrel sample.

 

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Bodegas Volcanes de Chile Lava Brut N/V (here, mostly 2010), $11.95 private order, charmat method, chardonnay and pinot noir.

-Bodegas Volcanes de Chile Tectonia Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Leyda Valley 13.5% ABV, private order $15.95.

-Bodegas Volcanes de Chile Summit Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2012 Rapel Valley 14.5% ABV, LCBO +350553, $10.95

-Bodegas Volcanes de Chile Tectonia Pinot Noir 2012 Bio Bio Valley 14% ABV, Vintages Dec 6 +389676, $17.95.

-Bodegas Volcanes de Chile Montepulciano Grenache 2013, barrel sample.

 

*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Bodegas Volcanes de Chile Summit Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2013 Rapel Valley 14%, LCBO +292607, $10.95.

 

The Food: our menu began with an appetizer of white bean puree and the Lava Brut, followed by a mixed baby leaf lettuce salad with goat cheese, an ideal match for the two savvies we tried. The main was either a roasted salmon with Israeli couscous or a burger with frites (or a vegetarian option), followed by dessert of a lemon fruit sorbet. I opted for the salmon which paired nicely with the pinot noir.

The Contact Person: jason@woodmanws.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 91.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com