Tasting - Yealands Estate Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Yealands Estate
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Seaview Vineyard
Country: New Zealand
Year: 2008
Price: Regular: $21, Sale: $7.95
Winery Review: Sufficient weight and texture, balanced by a flinty minerality. This wine is a fantastic match with foods such as cheese salad, poultry dishes and a wide range of seafood dishes including freshly shucked natural oysters, prawns, green lip mussels and creamy scallops.
Personal Review: This wine smelled like green and peppers and citrus fruits. The taste was consistent with its smell - very vegetabley with flavors of green pepper, red pepper, summer squash, citrus fruits, and zucchini coming through. It was crisp and refreshing and completely different than any other white wine I have ever had. I loved it and would definitely buy it. I did not have it with any food.

Tasting - Angove Viognier

Name: Angove Nine Vines
Variety: Viognier
Region: South Australia
Country: Australia
Year: 2009
Price: Regular: $15, Sale $5.95
Winery Review: Bright light straw in colour with some green hues, this wine has a lush ripe tropical fruit aroma. This is a fuller bodied white which fills the mouth with heady flavours of apricot, peach and citrus.  Angove Nine Vines Viognier is perfect for today's relaxed life-style and is the ideal accompaniment to grilled prawns with chilli and garlic or roast pork.

Personal Review: The bouquet of this wine was light, crisp, with subtle flavors of melon and honey. It tasted dry, watery, and tart with flavors of sour melon rind. The color was almost clear like water. I did not really care for this wine, and I did not have it with any food.

Tasting - Librandi Ciro Rosso Classico

Name: Librandi Ciro Rosso Classico
Variety: Gaglioppo
Region: Calabria
Country: Italy
Year: 2009
Price: Regular: $14, Sale: $3.95
Winery Review: Don’t let the pale garnet color fool you:  this is a substantial wine.  Aromas of red fruits and spice complement undertones of cranberries, wild berries, and plums.  On the palate, ripe tannins and good body make for an incredibly rich, yet easygoing red wine.  Pair this wine with sausage, spicy curry sauces, hot soppressata, and tandoori chicken.
Personal Review: The color of this wine was orange-brown. It smelled of sweet potatoes, cherries, blackberries, black pepper, cranberries, and plums. The wine was very tannic and hot. It tasted like plums, blackberries, and cranberries. To me, the wine tasted unbalanced. I did not have this wine with any food. and I did not like it. However, I thought its bouquet was very complex and interesting

Tasting - Ironstone Old Vine Zinfandel

Name: Ironstone Old Vine Zinfandel
Variety: Red Zinfandel
Region: Lodi, California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: Regular: $15, Sale: $7.95
Winery Review: Grown in vineyards that are over 45 years old, this medium-bodied Zin has exceptional varietal character with lovely aromas of dark fruit and blackberry. Subtle pepper spice mingles with richly concentrated fruit flavors of blackberry, ripe plums and fresh red raspberries. Barrel aging created its smooth, silky finish and unprecedented depth.  A wonderful wine pairing for variety of dishes. Any type of meat - whether its pork, beef or game - is ideal with this wine. Cioppino is another amazing complement or try it with tomato-based pastas, hearty stews or a plate of strong, aged cheeses.

Personal Review: This wine's bouquet was filled with aromas of sweet plums, black currants, blackberreis, dark cherries, and raspberries. The wine was a lot sweeter than I expected from the bouquet. There was a lot of residual sugar present up-front and flavors of blackberries, blueberries, plums, and peppery jam came through in the mid-palate. All mixed together, I thought this wine tasted a little bit like a waffle with several fruit and jam topping smothered in maple syrup! I really liked it - it was a perfect combination of sweetness, fruitiness, and tannic. I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - Rosemount Estate Moscato

Name: Rosemount Estate
Variety: Moscato
Region: Austrailia
Country: Australia
Year: 2012
Price: Regular: $12, Sale: $3.95
Winery Review: Clear, medium-lemon yellow in appearance; lovely citrus and honeysuckle aromas with lemon, honeysuckle, apple and ripe yellow plum flavours. Serve chilled with angel food cake or fresh fruit and mild cheeses.
Personal Review: On the nose, this wine smelled of honey and nectarines. It tasted super sweet with flavors of honey and honeydew melon coming through. It was very light and watery.

Winery Visit - Beliveau Estate Winery

My boyfriend, Ian, and I under the gazeebo with the grape
vines in the background. The bed and breakfast is on the right,
while the main building for tasting and dining is on the left.

 Introduction: On this fine weekend, some of my friends and I took a trip to a local winery in Blacksburg, Virginia, located about 12 miles from Virginia Tech's campus called Beliveau Estate Winery. The winery opened in May 2012, and is currently producing its third year of grapes. It is owned by a Yvan and Joyce, where the Yvan is a professor at Virginia Tech. Joyce greeted us at the main building where we tasted eight wines. She told us that Yvan had always dreamed of opening his own winery after they had traveled throughout Europe and enjoyed a variety of exquisite wines. The winery consists of a bed and breakfast, the main wine-tasting building, the grape vines, and a lovely lavender garden located near a gazebo for picnics. They also host a lot of weddings and wedding receptions because the location is ideal for beautiful pictures. Located in the countryside of Southwestern Virginia, Beliveau Estate Winery is the perfect place to relax.

Yvan and Joyce, owners of Beliveau Estate Winery
located 12 miles away from Virginia Tech's campus
in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Beliveau Estate holds three awards as readers ofVirginia Wine Lover Magazine: Gold for "Best Bed and Breakfast for a Wine Weekend," Silver for "Best Red Wine of the Western Region of Virginia," and Bronze for "Best Dessert Wine of the Western Region of Virginia." Beliveau Estate has also been named a "Top Wedding Venue in Southwest Virginia" by Virginia Living Magazine and was voted "2013 Silver Best Winery" by Blue Ridge Country Magazine. Many of their wines have also received awards.

The main building at Beliveau Estate Winery where we tried
eight wines. The grape vines are located on the hill right
behind the building. In the foreground is the lavender
garden, which is a popular wedding photo setting.

Wine Tastings at Beliveau Estate Winery: Our tasting experience consisted of four white wines, three red wines, and one Reserve wine. It cost us $5 each to taste the wine, which was well worth it because everything was delicious! Their wines definitely did not taste like stereotypical Virginia wine, which is usually does not turn out well because of Virginia's humid climate.

Here is a list of the wines we tried:

First wine tasting -
"Kaleidoscope."

1) "Kaleidoscope" - 2012, $18,Awards: 2 Bronze. Winery Review: "A refreshing Pinot Grigio with hints of melon, pie apple and distinct undertones of white pepper." To me, this wine smelled like peaches, melon, and citrus fruits. 

It was tart but refreshing, with flavors of peaches, melon, and a slight corn-syrupy taste, like Candy Corn.

2) "Reflection 2012" - $17 Awards: 2 Bronze. Winery Review: "Our dry Traminette has complex notes of exotic fruits and flowers." This wine smelled like lilac flowers and lavender mixed with notes of melon rinds. The taste was very floral and was slightly tart with flavors of citrus and leechee fruits coming through. I thought it was very well balanced and delicious! Joyce told us the picture on the bottle is of their pond, but the picture is flipped upside down on purpose to give it a more artistic, interesting look.

Second wine tasting -
"Reflection 2012."

Third wine tasting -
"Lover's Quest."

3) "Lover's Quest" - 2012, $18. Awards: Silver. Winery Review: "A favorite of those who like white wine on the slightly sweeter side. Pairs well with brie and apricots." This wine smelled like lavender, peaches, and melon and had a very different taste than its smell, which Joyce said is typical of Vidal Blanc grapes. It tasted very floral but I could not detect specific fruits like I could in its bouquet. I loved this wine!

4) "Discovery" - 2012, $15. Awards: Bronze. Winery Review: "A sweet Niagra/Riesling blend with aromas and flavors that transport you back to the days of your youth." The label on the bottle is a picture of Yvan and Joyce's two grandsons discovering a bird's nest. This wine smelled like leechee fruits, grape juice, and some type of candy I have had before, but could not specifically identify. It tasted very sweet like grape juice and like sour apple candy, but still was not sickeningly sweet. 

Fourth wine tasting -
"Discovery."

Fifth wine tasting -
"Silhouette 2012."

5) "Silhouette 2012" - $20. Awards: Bronze. 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Pinot Grigio to perfect the wine's color. Winery Review: "Our Cabernet Sauvignon is a cornucopia of red berry flavors, topped with spicy overtones." This wine smelled like plums, dark red cherries, blackberries, and peppercorns. The taste was just like it smelled - peppery, with plums and blackberry flavors. It was very thick and creamy.

6) "Portal 2012" - $24. Awards: Bronze. Winery Review: "A full-bodied Red Zinfandel, well balanced yet complex, with distinct layers of fruit and spice." This wine smelled peppery and sandy like the beach. It was a really nice, comforting smell. It tasted jammy, like plums, and was spicy.

Seventh wine tasting-
"Sweet Surrender"

Sixth wine tasting-
"Portal 2012."

7) "Sweet Surrender" - 100% Concord Grape, $15. Winery Review: This sweet red table wine is light and fruity with a beautiful candy-apple red color. The wine smelled just like grape juice, peaches, and sweet apples. It tasted like "Communion Wine" - it was very sweet, just like grape juice. I liked it and felt like I could easily drink a lot of it without even tasting the alcohol

Eighth wine tasting -
"Serenity."

8) "Serenity"-2011, $15. Awards: 2 Silver. Winery Review: "An after dinner favorite, this blend of two Chambourcins is decadent yet mellow, and pairs fabulously with dark chocolate. Light effervescence upon opening." This wine has 5-6% residual sugar and was very sweet! It smelled earthy and peppery. It tasted very different from the smell because it did not smell super sweet, but was surprisingly so. I also enjoyed how the earth tones came through on my palate and they were very well-balanced with the sweetness.  When I had it with a few pieces of dark chocolate, the combination tasted like a gourmet Govida chocolate covered cherry truffle. This wine was my favorite by far!

I loved every single one of the wines I tasted and definitely want to purchase their wines in the future!

The grapes are just starting to bud on these vines. You can
tell that Beliveau Estate's vines used to be planted on the
hill in the background if you look closely. There are
organized rows of dirt where the vines were originally planted.

Making the Wine/Production/Bottling Information: Beliveau Estate complete 100% of the wine-making and bottling process on their own. We were able to walk in the vineyard and look at the grape vines, which are just now beginning to bud, as well as tour their on-site storage and bottling facilities. Derek, the head manager of the vineyard, told us that their decision making process as to what grapes to plant and how to blend grapes to make certain wines are based off of blind taste-tests. They blend certain grapes to enhance color (i.e.: the "Silhouette 2012" Cabernet Sauvignon we tasted), and some blends are to enhance flavor and add complexity. He said they blind taste test small samples with blends between 5-20% of another grape, and vote on the best blend. If a particular mixture has a large amount of votes, they produce that mixture of grapes to make a wine. Derek also told us that it takes them about three years to produce grapes and some of the vines must grow for six years for root development. Beliveau gets its grapes from about a two-hour radius from its location in Blacksburg, Va. They produce about 500 gallons, or 20,000 cases of wine per year.

Another view of the vineyard from the top of the hill.

This year, Beliveau Estate is planting
another 6,000 vines in late May. They will
have volunteers come out to help plant
the new vines.

Some of Beliveau Estate's wine requires
aging or storing in Oak barrels. We asked Joyce
what kind of oak they use and she did not know.
However, she told us that they often use oak
chips to oak their wine to incorporate a creamy
mouth-feel and a buttery richness in their wines.

Beliveau Estate makes a variety of wine. Some are stored in stainless steel barrels, others in wood barrels, and some are aged in huge plastic vats. All of these types of wine are being made and stored in the same crowded room, where boxes of wine are stacked high to the ceiling, and walkways are narrow.

This is one of the plastic storage vats where some wines
are left to age.

A stainless steel barrel used for many wines
if oaky or creamy flavors are not desired in
the wine.

This is the grape crusher/de-stemmer. The grapes
are placed inside, and there is a gear that turns inside
and crushes all of the grapes. The cap formed by the
grape skins (if left in the wine) are pushed down
twice daily to enhance the colors and flavors
of the wine.In a separate room from where the wines are stored and aged, are the bottling, labeling, and corking devices. A different employee is placed at every station to make the process fast. After the wine is bottled, they are boxed up and put into storage until they are distributed.

Derek, the Head Manager at Beliveau Estate
Winery, showing us one of the machines in
the bottling process. This machine shoots
carbon dioxide into the bottles.

Derek showing us how the corking machine works.

Miscellaneous Photos at the Vineyard!:

Selfie with the moutains and vines in the
background.

After tasting wine, Matt Rost and his girlfriend, Anna,
enjoyed a glass together in the middle of the vineyard.

Group photo with friends after tasting eight delicious wines!
From left to right: Carl, Matt, Anna, Rob, Courtney (me), and
Ian.

Going to Beliveau Estate Winery was an excellent 

experience! It was truly gorgeous and I was not disappointed by any of their wines! I think they have a bright future ahead of them since they have already won won so many awards for their wine and are only in their third year of production. I think it is fascinating how a couple who had never made wine before started up the winery and have done so well. I highly recommend visiting!

Tasting - Volpetti

Name: Volpetti
Variety: Malvasia, Trebbiano, Greco
Region: Frascati
Country: Italy
Year: 2012
Price: $7.95
Winery Review: Straw yellow in color with a soft, delicate perfume, fruitful flavor, dry and harmonious taste. Perfect with appetizers, soups, and fish.
Personal Review: This blended wine smelled like sweet peaches and nectarines. The taste was crisp and refreshing, watery, was quite sweet, and had flavors of grapefruit, apple, peaches, and nectarines. I liked this wine a lot and did not have it with any food.

Tasting - Bricco dei Tati

Name: Bricco dei Tati
Variety: Barbera
Region: Piedmont
Country: Italy
Year: 2013
Price: $7.95
Winery Review: Fresh with aromas of strawberries, cherries and rose petals. This is ideal with shellfish, salads, chicken, and with appetizers.
Personal Review: This wine smelled of peaches, nectarines, strawberries, tart cherries and raspberries. The wine tasted great for a rose - like blackberries, cherries, strawberries, and was a little tart. It was very well-balanced between the sweetness and tartness and was super refreshing. It's lightness makes it ideal for consumption in hot weather. I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

Name: Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau
Variety: Gamay
Region: Beaujolais
Country: France
Year: 2013
Price: Regular: $14, Sale: $3.95
Winery Review: Balanced and lightly creamy, offering pretty flavors of plum sauce and raspberry coulis threaded with hints of ground spice. Elegant, with a floral finish. Drink now.
Personal Review: This wine smelled like blackberries, dark cherries, raspberries, plums, and smokey. The wine was light, thin-bodied, and jammy with a hint of black pepper. Other than that, there was not a whole lot of flavor. I liked this wine but it was not anything special. I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - Heinz Eifel Shine

Name: Heinz Eifel Shine
Variety: Riesling
Region: Mosel/ Rheingau
Country: Germany
Year: 2012
Price: $9.95
Winery Review: This drier-styled Riesling is bright, fruity and floral with crisp acidity and clean flavors of apple, pear and peach that compliment its stony minerality and earth complexity. It serves well as an aperitif and matches a wide variety of foods, like lighter salad dishes, shellfish, and cream sauces and also anything with a touch of spice.
Personal Review: This Riesling smelled like honey, nectarines, and citrus fruits with floral notes. The wine tasted sweet and was every so slightly bubbly, leaving a tingle in my nose in the beginning of the tasting. It mostly tasted like sweet peaches and nectarines. I really liked this Riesling and did not have it with any food.

Tasting - Altas Cumbres

Name: Altas Cumbres
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Lujan de Cuyo
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: Regular: $15, Sale: $6.95
Winery Review: Intense red color with violet highlights, with clean, fresh and complex aromas of berries, plums, figs and pepper. Strong personality is in perfect balance with a medium body and pleasant tannins. Ideal for: red meats, cheeses and strong sauces.
Personal Review: This wine smelled of sweet apples, blackberries, plum, buttered toast, brown sugar, and figs. The wine tasted buttery, with notes of plums, brown sugar, and figs coming through. It was sweet, creamy, full-bodied and quite complex. I really enjoyed this wine because it was the first wine I've tried with these flavor combinations and it was very well-balanced. I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - El Sierro

Name: El Sierro
Variety: Tempranillo/Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Valencia
Country: Spain
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95
Winery Review: Dark ruby in color with rich aromas of red fruit and light spices. It is a real knock-out with delicious flavors of dark cherries, blackberries, and vanilla all perfectly integrated. The Tempranillo provides wonderful spice and fruit, while Cabernet Sauvignon gives structure and depth with the beautiful use of oak.
Personal Review: This wine smelled like cherries, cranberries, and plum with hints of smoke and spice. The wine was very dry and tannic and tasted like tart cranberries and plums. For me, this wine was very one-dimensional and not as interesting as it smelled. I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - Toso

Name: Toso
Variety: Moscato
Region: Piedmont
Country: Italy
Year: N/A
Price: $9.95
Winery Review: This Moscato is reminiscent of honeysuckle and rose petal. The quality is equivalent to a top level Asti Spumante DOCG. Sweet sparkling wine obtained from a careful selection of the Moscato grapes. It has a pale straw yellow color with fine foam and bubbles. Tropical fruit flavors, refreshing. Excellent to match desserts, fruit and dried pastries.
Personal Review: This wine had subtle aromas of honeysuckle and peaches. The wine was quite sweet with flavors of nectarines, peaches, grapefruit, and strawberries. The carbonation gave it a slight tinge in my mouth, which I enjoyed. I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - Omo Ze Bel

Name: Omo Ze Bel
Variety: Merlot
Region: Sicily
Country: Italy
Year: N/A
Price: $6.95
Winery Review: This bright, soft Merlot comes from a hilly vineyard on the Alcesti family estate in beautiful Sicily. It has hints of red cherries and freshly cut hay. Exceptional Value.
Personal Review: On the nose, this wine smelled like blackberries, cranberries, dark cherries, plums, grassy, and peppery. However, the taste was quite disappointing, with a very boring beginning and a mildly spicy mid-plate that was very tannic and a little rubber-flavored. The wine left an earthy aftertaste in my mouth. This wine was quite one-dimensional and it was difficult to detect any specific fruits in the wine, other than Merlot grapes. I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - Atlas Cumbres

Name: Atlas Cumbres
Variety: Torrontes
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $5.95
Winery Review: Yellow colour with greenish muances. Very intense aromas of fresh grapes, flower perfume and mature peaches. Fresh in the mouth. Light and easy to drink. Ideal with seafood, Thai and Chinese food.
Personal Review: This Torrontes smelled like honey, peaches, and nectarines. The taste was significantly more sour than I expected from just smelling it. It was very light and crisp with hints of peaches and overwhelming sour melon flavors. The wine was also a little dry. I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - Avery Quinn

Name: Avery Quinn
Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Napa Valley, California
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Price: $6.95
Winery Review: The 2001 vintage marks a return to form for this great value Chardonnay. The aromas feature creamy, mellow, golden apple, pineapple, fresh butter and a touch of vanilla. Then rich, ripe flavors of yellow pear, pineapple, fresh apple, cream and buttered toast swell up and fill your mouth before a juicy apple and caramel inflected finish makes your mouth water (and smile!).
Personal Review: This Chardonnay smelled like orange peel, sour melon, lemon, and Granny Smith apples. The taste was a lot sweeter than the smell, with rich aromas of caramel apple, honeydew melon, and cantaloupe coming through.  The wine had a thick, creamy mid-palate and was buttery on the finish, signifying some oak barrel aging. I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - Gougenheim

Name: Gougenheim
Variety: Torrontes
Region: Chilecito in La Rioja
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $9.95
Winery Review: The 2012 Torrontes comes from Chilecito in La Rioja. It has a light floral nose with touches of lemon peel and nectarine. The palate is crisp and taut, showing far more vivacity and fruit than the nose implied, finishing with a flourish of apricot and white peach. Drink now.
Personal Review: This Torrontes smelled like melon, nectarine, honey, and citrus fruits. However, the taste was quite more pungent than its aromas. The wine was very dry and had a dry finish. The fruits I could detect in the mid-palate were sour as well, such as sour peaches and sour melon. I could appreciate this wine, but it was way too sour and dry for me! I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - Santa Julia Pinot Grigio

Name: Santa Julia
Variety: Pinot Grigio
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2013
Price: $8.95
Winery Review: Light and clean, which compared to other Argentine Pinot Grigios is not something to dismiss. Feels solid and punchy, with orange and mango flavors. Has nice overall clarity and balance, with a citrusy finish
Personal Review: On the nose, this wine smelled of peaches, melon, lemons, oranges, and other citrus fruits. The wine was sour at first but had a fruity mid-palate, where punches of flavors of orange peel, citrus fruits, melon, and lemon came through. It's dry finish left me feeling thirsty. This wine was interesting to me and quite good, but I would not want to keep drinking it. I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - Santa Julia Malbec

Name: Santa Julia
Variety: Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: Sustainable 2012
Price: $8.95
Winery Review: The nose is full of mellow raspberry and cherry, while the palate is fleshy and round, with blackberry and a touch of raisin. Plump, not edgy, and ready to drink, with coffee and mocha notes in the finish.
Personal Review: This Malbec smelled of dark berries such as raspberries and blackberries and plums. The taste was no where as fruity as the smell. The fruit flavors I could detect were mostly blackberries and plums with hints of violets. It has a slightly rubbery taste throughout and was a little tannic at the end. I did not find this wine very edgy, as the review states, and I also did not really like it because the fruit flavors were so subdued. I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - Weinert

Name: Weinert
Variety: Carrascal (40% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Merlot)
Region: Lujan de Cuyo
Country: Argentina
Year: 2008
Price: $13.95
Winery Review: Aged for two years in cask, the 2008 Carrascal is a blend of 40% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot. It has a rustic blackberry, scorched earth and leather-scented bouquet with touches of pressed flowers. The palate is well-balanced with crisp tannins, expensive black tarry fruit and Bordeaux-like finish. Drink now-2016.
Personal Review: This wine's bouquet was of sweaty leather, blackberries, and was very Earthy. The wine was mouth-puckering, very tannic, slightly hot and spicy on the finish, and had a rubbery aftertaste. The black pepper, barnyard, and blackberry flavors mixed together made the wine very interesting but I did not like the wine. However, I think an experienced wine-drinker would find this wine fascinating. I did not have this wine with any food.

Tasting - Bellafina Pink Moscato

Name: Bellafina
Variety: Pink Moscato (Blend of Moscato and Rabosos)
Region: Veneto
Country: Italy
Year: N/A
Price: $9.95
Winery Review: A blend of Moscato and Rabosos grapes it has a pale rose color, notes of red berries (strawberry and raspberry), with the characteristics and fragrant bouquet and palate that is typical of the Moscato grape.
Personal Review: This wine has a bouquet of roses, strawberries, and cherries. The wine was very sweet, tasted like a pink Jolly Rancher, and was light and very watery. There was really not much to this wine so it was pretty boring and exactly what I'd expect from a cheap rose wine. I liked the fruitiness and sweetness, but I wish the wine had a little more to offer. I feel like you could easily get this wine for $4.99 at a grocery store, so to me, the price is a little steep for what you are getting. I did not have this wine with any food, nor do I think it would pair well with any kind of food.