Tasting Wine Pairing May

Question 1

First Hors d’Oeuvre Pairing

Answer 1

Varietal: Zibibbo (Moscato di Alessandria)
( Zi-bee-boh) ( moo-skah-toe Dee Ahly-San-dree)
Producer: Donnafugata
(doo-nah Foo-gah-tah)
Name of wine: Ben Rye (Ben- Ree-yah)
Country: Italy
Region: South Eastern Sicily - Pantelleria Island
DOC: Passito di Pantelleria
( Pass-see-toh de Pan-tel-lear-ee-uh )
Vintage: NV
Grape: 100% Zibibbo
ABV: 14.35%
Glass: Port

Winemakers tasting notes:

Ben Ryé 2022 has a golden color with bright amber hues.
The very intense bouquet ranges from fruity notes of apricot, yellow peach and candied orange peel to tropical hints of mango and papaya, followed by hints of Mediterranean scrub.
On the palate, the fruity hints of aromatic herbs are combined with sweet nuances of honey. Intense and persistent, with an extraordinary balance between freshness and sweetness, Ben Ryè is a captivating Passito di Pantelleria, among wines most popular desserts in
the world.

Question 2

Third Hors d’Oeuvre Pairing

Answer 2

Varietal: Sparkling
Type of sparkling: Brut Rośe
Producer: Victorine de Chastenay
- (Vic-torr-een De Shasta-nay)
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Appellation: Crémant de Bourgogne
- (Crem-mahnt de Bur-gun-ya)
Vintage: NV
Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
Sweetness: Brut
ABV: 12.5%
Glass: Tulip

   - Crémant is a group of sparkling wines made with the same technique as Champagne, but from outside the Champagne region. 


   Palate: ripe cherry, plum, strawberry, raspberry and mushroom

   Nose: barnyard, cherry, plum, game and tomato

Question 3

First Course Pairing

Answer 3

Varietal: Kerner ( Kair-ner)
Producer: Abbazia di Novacella
(Aw-Baw-Zee-uh dee Noh-vuh-chell-uh)
Country: Italy
Region: Trentino-Alto Adige
(Trent-tee-no Al-toe Ah-dee-jeh
Appellation: Alto Adige DOC
Vintage: 2024
Grape: 100% Kerner
ABV: 14%
Glass: AP

Winemakers Notes: Greenish to bright yellow in color. Peaches, apricots, and tones of tangerines on the nose. Very lively, juicy, and sleek on the palate, with a mineral-rich finish.

Question 4

Second Course Pairing

Answer 4

Varietal: Chardonnay
Producer: Mt. Beautiful
Country: New Zealand
Region: North Canterbury (Can-ter-ber-ee)
Vintage: 2018
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
ABV: 14.1%

Winemakers Notes:
An aromatic Chardonnay displaying white peach and toasted brioche with a creamy texture that makes it easy to drink. It is a medium bodied wine with ripe nectarine-like fruit and underlying notes of roasted almonds and cinnamon. The wine boasts a clean and crisp finish, lovely persistent minerality and savory toastiness.
Glass:

Question 5

Third Course Pairing

Answer 5

Varietal: Gamay
Producer: Château de la Chaize
(Shat-toe doo la Sheh-Z)
Country: France
Region: Beaujolais (also known as Burgundy)
Appellation: Brouilly (Bree but the r is soft sounds more like Boo-we)
Designation: Monopole ( moon-uh-pool)
• A monopole implies a wine produced from a vineyard in an AOC or AVA that is owned and produced exclusively by one domaine/winery.
Vintage: 2022
Grape: 100% Gamay
ABV: 13
Glass: Burgundy

Wine notes: Blackberry, black plum, and cassis aromas open on the nose along with hints of cigar box and cranberry skin. The palate is round with an adolescent acidity on the precipice of maturity. Hints of dried orange peel indulge the wine with added complexity.

Question 6

Forth Course Pairing

Answer 6

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée
Producer: Heitz Cellars
Name of the Wine: Lot C-91
Cuvée: The original blend was cultivated by Joe Heitz in the fall of 1969, with the idea to create the “perfect” blend. When going through their library of wines they came across Lot C-91 in their archives and decided to go through Joe Heitz notes to replicate it as the wine was an exceptional blend. In keeping with the original vision, Lot C-91 continues to be sourced from treasured parcels in Western Oakville, Eastern Rutherford, Southeast Howell Mountain, and the foothills of St. Helena
Country: USA
Region: California
Subregion: Napa Valley
Appellation: St. Helena
Vintage: 2018
Grape: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 14%
Glass: Bordeaux

Tasting Notes: The wine showcases aromas of blackberries, cassis, and a touch of vanilla, along with flavors of dark cherry, blackcurrant, and well-integrated tannins. It has a long, structured finish.

Question 7

Dessert Pairing

Answer 7

Varietal: Tokaji Aszú (toe-ki ah-tsu)
Producer: Disznókö
Country: Hungary
Region: Tokaj (toe-kay)
Vintage: 2021
Grape: 100% Furmint (foor-meent)
Amount of residual sugar: 5 Puttonyos
ABV: 12.5
Glass: Port

What does Puttonyos mean?

In the context of wine, “Puttonyos” refers to a unit of measurement for the level of sweetness in Tokaji (Tokay) wines from Hungary and Slovakia. It traditionally indicated the number of “puttony” (25 kg baskets) of botrytised (nobly rotted) grapes added to a barrel of wine. More recently, it’s been linked to grams of residual sugar.
Elaboration:
Tokaji (Tokay) Wines:
Puttonyos is specifically used for classifying the sweetness of Tokaji wines, a type of dessert wine known for its unique flavor profile due to the use of botrytised grapes.
Traditional Measurement:
In the past, the sweetness of Tokaji was determined by the number of puttony (25 kg baskets) of Aszú (botrytised grapes) added to a 136-liter Gönc barrel during fermentation. A 3 Puttonyos would have 3 baskets, a 4 Puttonyos 4, and so on, up to 6.
Modern Measurement:
While the traditional system remains in place, the puttonyos number is also correlated with the level of residual sugar in the finished wine. For example, a 3 Puttonyos Tokaji must have at least 60 g/l of residual sugar, while a 5 Puttonyos must have 120 g/l or more, according to WSET.