Southern Wine & Spirits Portfolio Tasting

Had the priviledge of being invited to SWS Portfolio Tasting last night at The Crystal Tea Room in the Wananmaker Building in Philadelphia. They had over 1000 brands of wine & spirits on display and available for sampling for licensees.

Some of the neat things:
Campo Viejo Rioja - Tempranillo - what a great product! They had the Crianza($12) and the Gran Reserve($26) available. The Reserva is listed at $13 #9327. I was very impressed with the quality of both products. The Reserva is widely available.

Ravenswood - getting to taste 4 different high quality Zinfandels. The difference between vineyards was easy to detect, even with dulled senses from tasting so much.

Meeting Louis-Fabrice Latour. The 11th generation, and the 7th "Louis" to run the winery. Truly a gracious man, and very hospitable. Sampled the Corton Grancey on the red side, and Corton Charlemagne on the white.

Nickel & Nickel, Far Niete had a single vineyard cab, and a fantasic Late Harvest Semillion/Sauvignon Blanc, described as "liquid gold".

On the spirits side, the Jameson's Irish Whiskey display offered Warmed Apple cider with Jameson. Simply 1 gallon of warmed cider, letting a cinnamon stick steep for a few minutes, and a 750 of Jamesons. What a great idea for Halloween and the fall.

Another tasting is scheduled for next Thursday in Pittsburgh. Ask a licensee to tag along, it truly is an event.

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