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Super Saturday - Wine Tasting Every Saturday
Noon to 5:00pm
This week we will be tasting four excellent wines. We have one from Italy,
one from France, one from Oregon, and one from Argentina. Just a reminder
that Sunday is Mothers Day. Due to a recent influx of people asking for “wines
without sulfites” I thought we should tackle this matter.
There is no such thing as “wine without sulfites.” None, period, what-so-
ever, nada. Sulfites are a naturally occurring substance created during
fermentation. Winemakers have historically added very small controlled
amounts of sulfites to wine to help prevent oxidation and spoilage. Sulfites are
a natural preservative. The reason that “contains sulfites” is on the label is
because it became a federally mandated warning in 1988. Why the sudden
mandate? We can blame the rise of the salad bar for that one. In the 1970’s
salad bars began to sprout up everywhere, serving cut vegetables and fruits.
Anyone that has ever left cut veggies or fruit out knows that they will start
wilting and turn brown pretty quickly. So the salad bars were routinely being
sprayed with sulfites to prevent this browning. The amount of sulfites ranged
up to 2000 ppm (parts per million). The FDA started receiving reports that
several hundred people were having adverse reactions. So strict regulations
were created to protect these people who account for about one half of one
percent (.5%) of the population, they also happen to be severe asthmatics. Wine
already had restrictions on the amount of sulfite used, with the top be 350ppm.
Most wines contain less than 150ppm. A few wineries do not add sulfites at all,
and they will have about 80-100ppm. Most of these will be the higher tier
wines. Some people say that sulfites cause headaches, and that is simply not
true according to allergists. Wine-related headaches are most likely caused by
an individuals difficulty metabolizing the wine. To give you idea of how
common sulfites are, they can also be found in: beer, bread, pizza crust,
cookies, drink mixes, crackers, tortillas, pickles, salad dressing, olives, vinegar,
sugar, shrimp, scallops, relish, dried fruit, fruit juices, and other foods and
drinks. Long story short, there is no reason to worry about sulfites. Now on to
the wine!
The first wine of the day is a pinot grigio from the Friuli region of Italy by
Italo Cescon. The nose is light and fruity with slight citrus and exotic fruit
tones. It is light bodied with a medium-full acidity. The finish is crisp and racy.
This is a great wine for fish, light chicken dishes, or salad. Serve well chilled.
The next wine is a Chablis by Jaboulet-Vercherre. Chablis is an
appellation of Burgundy, France that makes chardonnay. If it is a real Chablis
it will not be in a jug. The nose of this wine is very minerally with hints of flint
and stone. It is medium bodied with a steely acidity. The finish brings to mind
the image of blued steel. Serve with shellfish for a great match. Serve well
chilled.
The first red of the day is a pinot noir from southern Oregon by
Bridgeview. The nose of this wine is light with cherries and red fruits. It is light-
medium bodied with medium acidity and a soft light tannin. The finish is filled
with bright fruits. This is a very food friendly wine and would match well with
almost anything, especially if it has a fruit glaze. Serve at cellar temperature.
The final wine of the day is a cabernet sauvignon from Mendoza,
Argentina by Fundacion. The nose is solid cassis laced with black pepper. It is
full bodied with a full tannin that is balanced by high acidity. The finish is dark
with blackberry tones accented by vanilla. Serve with steak or game. Serve at
cellar temperature.
Those are the wines for this week. Some in and enjoy. See you soon.
Your Friends at River Rock Beverages
