UPTON WINE CLUB MEETING
The February Wine Club meeting was an energetic and very informative evening by Simon on the wines of California.
During the early part of 20th century America had a very healthy wine industry nearly all concentrated in California, and then prohibition. The wine industry was decimated and there was a 94% reduction in wine production. Moonshine however did very well, as did organised crime. But the story has a happy ending and from the 1930’s through to the 1970’s wine production revived, and in many peoples opinion America has become one of the great producers, and consumers of wine.
Simon devised the evening so the members could taste two wines of the same grape variety and compare. The first was a Carltidge and Brown Chardonnay from the wine society, and a Brown Ranch Chardonnay. The first was very smooth and buttery with a hint of oak, and the second a much fresher and fruity product. Both of these wines where liked by the group. Then we hit the reds, and did they pack a punch. The two Zinfandel’s where both very palatable but the second, a Joseph Swann Stellwagen, was exceptionally powerful and should not be drunk near a naked flame, for fear of combustion – 15.5% proof!
The two Pinot Noir where good and the second of these, a Sainsbury Pinot Noir from Majestic, was favoured. The Cabernets where again considered to be very palatable, and strong on flavour with not too much tannin these were the wine society’s Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon and a Mondavia Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
The evening was well received and we would all like to thank Simon for his hard work in producing such an insight into Californian wine. Next month it is Derek and the wines of Portugal.
Chris Traynor