The Wine Intellect

I am a fan of Lambrusco and always in search of a great Lambrusco wine. One day, I decided to peruse the wall of wine at my local Mom's Organic Market where I found the Broletto Lambrusco wine which is made with organic grapes. Produced by Cantina Sociale di Puianello e Coviolo Sca, in Reggio Emilia, Italy, this Lambrusco is made with 30% Lambrusco Salamino, 30% Lambrusco Marani, 30% Lambrusco Maestri and 10%Ancellotta. What does this mean? These grapes were blended to give you the color, aroma and acidity of a very good wine. Each of these grapes (though same varietal, different species- with the exception of the Ancellotta), have characteristics that are stronger than others, but when combined, make for a tasty wine. This intense ruby red wine is a sparkling wine. It is light- bodied on the palate and fruity. You can taste flavors of dark and red fruit: blackberry and raspberry.  The flavor is more robust than some of the Lambruscos I have had. Keep in mind, my selection is prett

Interested in wine and don't know where to begin?  Don't worry. You are not alone. Many people would love to learn more about wine, but are either shy or have misconceptions that limit their ability to explore. I was once that person. It took a few trips to my local wine store and some not so great suggestions, that lead me to begin my own wine adventure. Below, I have 5 suggestions to help you get started. Learning about wine and then becoming comfortable enough to dialogue with others about wine, takes some time. However, if you stay on your journey, the time invested will be worthwhile.  1.  Start small. You cannot expect to learn everything about wine in a day. There is so much to the subject of wine that it will take you a few years to develop a vast array of knowledge that you will feel comfortable sharing with individuals. Start with reading books or articles that interest you. If you find that you continue to thirst for more, then it may be time to take a class and see

It was a wonderful night with family and friends at the Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority's Wine Talk, hosted by Theta Chapter.  This wine tasting event, led by Ijeoma Enendu (CSW), was held to help Theta Chapter raise funds for the college stipend, which supports the collegiate academic endeavors of the Kopelles.  The Kopelles Youth Program strives to build leadership skills in young women by promoting good citizenship, cultural enlightenment, and academic achievement.  This was a night of not only wine talk and education, but fun and games. Below are the slides for those who were unable to attend the wine tasting. The slides will be up for a limited time.  If you have any questions, please leave your comments for the administrator.  For the presentation slides ( please contact the administrator for more information, as the slides were available for paid guests only). For more information on the Kopelles Youth Program , please visit:  Kopelles Youth Program For more information on Lambda K

I have another wine for my readers looking for wines that are red and sweet. This one is sure to please and I can guarantee, you will be back to purchase more. Read below for my notes on it. Stella Rosa is a light, semi- sweet Italian wine created by the Riboli family.  It is a propriety blend of several grape varietals including Brachetto. It is deep red in color and and semi- sparkling.  On the nose are dark- berried fruit and on the palate, the dark berry fruit flavor lends itself to the lingering after taste that completes the finish. This is a low alcohol grape wine with an ABV of 5%. However, be careful- though one glass may not be enough to make you drunk, if you continue to indulge, you may feel a slight buzz.  Some positives for this wine are it contains no artificial flavors (it is made with real fruit), no added sugars, and no added preservatives. This allows you to truly appreciate what the wine has to offer.  Stella Rosa Black is food friendly. It will complement an array

When it comes to red wines for the novice, I can name 5 that will be safe and encourage the novice taster to explore further. One of them is a Merlot and when I think Merlot, I think of the Turning Leaf Merlot from Modesto, California. This is a dark colored still red wine. Very aromatic! On the nose, red fruit and herbs.  On the palette, it is fruit forward with red fruits and a hint of vanilla, but it quickly dissipates and leaves you with a light spicy finish. This medium- bodied wine is soft. but packs flavor.  Turning Leaf Merlot is a good recommendation for those new explorers to wine. It is not only approachable, but affordable. I purchased my bottle for $6.29 at my local Total Wine. The ABV for this wine is 12.5%.  Turning Leaf will not disappoint at the dinner table. If you are a lucky diner at a restaurant and see it on the menu, order it. I have read several times it is liked by many, but a hard wine to find.  Enjoy this Merlot with roasted chicken, grilled vegetables, turk

Pietro Est! Est! Est! is a tasty dry white wine. Nothing extraordinary, just good. Depending on who you ask, you will find a range of views about this wine.  The wine is pale yellow in color. When you initially pour it, it appears to be slightly sparkling.  On the nose, I detect white florals, citrus fruits, stone fruits and some flint or some type of mineral. On the palate, it is fresh and crisp and the acidity is pretty high. I taste citrus fruits such as lemons and limes, I taste tree fruits like green apples and pears. I also get stone fruits such as white peach and again, I have that mineral taste.  This light to medium bodied wine maintains its "zestiness" on the finish.  Pietro Est! Est! Est! is pretty versatile when it comes to food pairings. It can be enjoyed with pasta, vegetarian dishes, seafood, cured meats, lean fish, and appetizers or snacks. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed this wine with Chips and Salsa.  This wine is made of the grape varietals, Malvasia and Tr

  Always one to go against the grain, I chose a light drink for a cold snowy day. To be honest, it was a great thing to do as the Bartenura Malvasia Di Casorzo allowed me to mentally escape to a warm place where ice, sleet and snow were no where in sight.  Malvasia Di Casorzo is a red berry used to make sweet and sparkling wines in Piemonte. What Bartenura did with this wine was well- done.  The color is a clear rose color and the drink is slightly sparkling. On the nose and palate, there are red berry notes. I detected cherry first.  This semi- sweet, light- bodied drink is fresh and bright and the acidity provides balance. While drinking this wine, it reminded me of my beloved Brachetto.  Ideally, this is a perfect wine for a nice warm day, a picnic, or a small evening gathering on the deck. Definitely serve this drink chilled and if you pair it with food, think light dishes or appetizers. It also pairs well with cheeses. This drink has a 5% ABV.  One could easily finish it alone. B