Tasting- Ca'Bea Sangue di Guida

Name: Ca'Bea Sangue di Guida
Variety: Blend of Uva Rara, Barbera and Croatina
Region: Oltrepo Pavese
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: "Off-dry with a slight fizz, offering bright berry and mineral notes. Medium-bodied, with a clean, fresh palate and fruity finish. This is a rare, sweet red wine that is wonderful with desserts such as dry pastries, cookies and cakes."

My Review: Nope! Too many bubbles which makes me sad because the flavors are actually really good. Reminds me of grape juice except I hate grape juice. Sweeter, bold dark fruit flavors like plums and berries. Really wish there wasn't carbonation in this.

Paired with food: Nope, but if they take the carbonation out I'll give it another chance. Seriously considered buying it and then opening it and leaving it out to let it get flat. But not sure how the oxygen would have affected the flavors. Oh well.

Tasting- Alvarez de Toledo Mencia Roble

Name: Alvarez de Toledo
Variety: Mencia Roble
Region: Bierzo
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $14

Winery Review: "The 2009 Alvarez de Toledo was bottled just a week before the wine was presented but seems to be showing no symptoms of distress. Balsamic, leather, and black fruits are the principal notes struck by this suave effort that over-delivers in a big way. Like its older sibling, it can be enjoyed now but will have more to say in 2-3 years."

My Review: Smells slightly like florals. Tannins for sure with a much drier finish and bitter. Not getting a lot of fruit or floral flavors in the taste. Probably more earthy and vegetative flavors.

Paired with food: No, and if I wanted to drink my vegetables I would buy V8. But I don't buy V8, I buy wine, so I would like it to be a little less earthy and a little more fruity.

Tasting- Codirosso Chianti

Name: Codirosso Chianti
Variety: Blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Colorino
Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy
Year: 2015
Price: $13

Winery Review: "A heck of a value in Chianti, this delicious blend of 90% Sangiovese, 7% Canaiolo and 3% Colorino offers up notes of licorice, new saddle leather, black cherry and berry fruit, loamy soil undertones and a touch of pepper and herbs. It is medium-bodied, savory and best drunk over the next several years."

My Review: Can I just say, I freaking love Chianti. Yum, delicious, reminds me of Italy. Though this particular one is slightly bitter it has red fruit characteristics which I love. Laughing because my boyfriend told me I wouldn't like this one, I proved him wrong fo-sho.

Paired with food: Not at the tasting, but it would be delicious with my Nonna's red sauce. Or my mom's. Or my dad's. I guess I could make some too,

Tasting- The Royal Old Vines Steen

Name: The Royal Old Vines Steen
Variety: Chenin Blanc
Region: Western Cape
Country: South Africa
Year: 2015
Price: $8.95

Winery Review: "The 2015 Chenin Blanc offers loads of melony fruit interspersed with hints of honeysuckle and peach. It is delicious, crisp, fresh, lively, and a dead ringer for a good Loire Valley Chenin Blanc. Drink it over the next year."

My Review: This sparkles on my tongue and I don't know what that means but I don't like when it happens! Not a sparkling wine, but perhaps because it is royal there is a little extra somethin-somethin there. On the finish, surprise surprise, we have cat pee to a slight extent with some acidity.

Paired with food: Nope, but it might go well with Fancy Feast, since cats are royal and all.

Tasting- Barao de Figueira

Name: Barao de Figueira Vinho Branco
Variety: Siria
Region: Beira
Country: Portugal
Year: 2014
Price: $12

Winery Review: "This wine is soft and rounded. It has lemon and light spiciness along with cool acidity. It is an easy wine that is ripe with apple and fresh lemon juice and ready to drink."

My Review: This wine smells like a ripe pear. Very light with floral tastes but not a lot of fruits. Vegetative feel with some acidity detectable on the finish.

Paired with food: Nope, and I didn't particularly care for this earthy floral taste, I really like my fruits.

Tasting- Crane Lake Riesling

Name: Crane Lake
Variety: Riesling
Region: California
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: "Pale golden color. Ripe and dried peaches on the nose. Minerals and dried peach flavors. Nicely balanced, leaning towards lime acididty."

My Review: Smells like flowers. The sweetness is not overwhelming. Floral and fruity flavors which I cannot seem to specifically identify.

Paired with food: No, but this has probably been my favorite white dessert wine.

Tasting- Vinedos Real Rubio Roja Crianza

Name: Vinedos Real Rubio Roja Crianza
Variety: Blend of Tempranillo and Graciano
Region: Rioja
Country: Spain
Year: 2010
Price: $16

Winery Review: "Lightly baked berry aromas vie for attention with leather, spice and mild earth notes, and the result is disjointed. On the palate, this is tight as a drum initially, but more expansive as it unfolds. Cherry, plum, raspberry, vanilla and woodspice flavors finish pure, clean and easy. This is a fine yet manageable Rioja that’s not trying too hard. Drink through 2016."

My Review: The smell is enticing with floral and fruity notes. Berry flavors yet still light and delicious. Slightly tannic.

Paired with food: No, not this time.

Tasting- Barao de Figueira Tino Reserva

Name: Barao de Figueira Tino Reserva
Variety: Blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca
Region: Beira
Country: Portugal
Year: 2013
Price: $12

Winery Review: "From vineyards at 2000 feet elevation, this is a rich and spicy wine that has a pure streak of fruit freshness and a firmly tannic core. It is perfumed from Touriga Nacional in the blend, with red berry and black plum flavors coming through strongly along, balanced by acidity. It will be better from 2017."

My Review: This wine is tannic for sure and I am actually not a fan of how dry my mouth was. Dark fruits for sure, probably black plum.

Paired with food: Not this time, but I'll have to try it when the 2017 bottle comes out.

Tasting- Garnacha de Fuego Old Vines Grenache

Name: Garnacha de Fuego
Variety: Grenache
Region: Aragon
Country: Spain
Year: 2014
Price: $10

Winery Review: "The Garnacha de Fuego Rose is a solid effort that has a light salmon color to go with notions of cherry blossom, orange peel and herbs de Provence. Medium-bodied, supple, fresh easy-drinking."

My Review: Smells kind of smokey, also slight hints of apple. The taste is slightly bitter with a slight tang on the finish.

Paired with food: No, and this wasn't exactly my favorite

Tasting- Villa Vitas Ribolla Gialla

Name: Villa Vitas
Variety: Ribolla Gialla
Region: Venezie
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $6.95

Winery Review: "The 2014 Ribolla Gialla shows more minerality, nice quince, white currant and citrus oil notes, a dry, refreshing mouthfeel and a fragrant bouquet."

My Review: Slightly sour on the tongue but in a citrus way, perhaps lemon. Very light and dry.

Paired with food: No, but this was pretty good so I would try it with food.

Tasting- Alvaro Domecq Aranda Cream Sherry

Name: Alvaro Domecq
Variety: Aranda Cream Sherry
Region: Jerez
Country: Spain
Year: Non-vintage
Price: $20

Winery Review: "Golden-brown in color, this has heady aromas of cola, nut, nutmeg, root beer and caramel. A pure, creamy palate of cinnamon apple, mocha, coffee and chocolate. It's quite smooth and balanced, and very long on the finish."

My Review: The brown color is throwing me off slightly. Smells like straight bourbon which I don't care for. The flavors remind me of soda without the carbonation and bourbon without the heat. Also has an unexpecting sweet component to it.

Paired with food: No, I disliked this highly. However, if you like bourbon this would probably go well with dark chocolate or rum balls.

Tasting- Layer Cake Garnacha

Name: Layer Cake
Variety: 100% Garnacha
Region: Calatayud
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $18

Winery Review: "The Layer Cake Garnacha from Calatayud, Spain is rich and powerful, yet clean and balanced. Layered with aromas of ultra ripe black fruit. On the palate, the wine shows intense dark fruit with a background of rich dark chocolate and fresh ground coffee with a long creamy finish."

My Review: Smells like strawberries and dark fruits. Very bitter especially on the finish. Flavors are black truits though I cannot identify any in particular.

Paired with food: No, but if it goes well with cake I'll definitely drink it!

Tasting- Fossi Rosso

Name: Fossi Rosso
Variety: Blend: Sangiovese, Merlot, Primitivo and Negroamaro
Region: Fiesole
Country: Italy
Year: Non-vintage
Price: $18 (Magnum)

Winery Review: "A blend of Sangiovese and Merlot with a touch of Primitivo and Negroamaro. It will remind those who have traveled to Italy of one of the local house wines they consumed while there.  Simple, juicy, and perfect for drinking with or without food, it’s packed with bright cherry, strawberry and cranberry fruit aromas and flavors."

My Review: Smells very good, the taste is very dry with tannins. Slightly bitter, and I do not get any fruity hints at all.

Paired with food: Not this time.

Tasting- Nugan Pie in the Sky Chardonnay

Name: Nugan Pie in the Sky
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: South Eastern
Country: Australia
Year: 2013
Price: $15

Winery Review: "Aromas of poached peach, fig and pineapple with biscuity notes. Tropical, medium bodied style with peach and melon flavours complimented by zesty acids, savoury nuances and a crisp, dry finish. Perfect partner with many styles of modern cuisine including those with an Asian or Mediterranean twist."

My Review: The smell is seemingly familiar but I can't identify it. The taste is smokey and slightly bitter, especially on the finish

Paired with food: Not this time, but maybe it would go well with some pie?

Tasting- Invino Si Pinot Grigio

Name: Invino Si
Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
Region: Lombardy
Country: Italy
Year: 2014
Price: $14

Winery Review: "Pavia, in the Lombardy region of northern Italy where viticulture dates back thousands of years is home to the Si Pinot Grigio vineyards. The wine is creamy on the palate with a crisp, dry character, fresh citrus and pear flavors and an elegant finish."

My Review: Very light, pleasant. Tree fruits like pear and hints of light citrus, very crisp and slightly dry.

Paired with food: No, but this is definitely my favorite white wine by far! The picture doesn't do it justice, but the bottle is beautiful. I actually bought this to bring as a hostess gift for my grandparents who are having me for spring break!