Enjoy life...one glass at a time.

With more than 60% female employees,Howard, Wershbale & Co.

is proud to support professionalwomen and their growth in business.

September 19, 2012Massimo da Milano

women’s wine tast ing& networking event

presented by

Poema Cava Brut, SpainPoema carefully observes t he Cava DO’s stringent regulations to craft its top-quality, small-production Cavas, which are made using the same traditional method used in Champagne, but with grapes that are indigenous to Spain.

Fresh, clean, citrus, mineral and Granny Smith apple aromas with toasted bread notes make this a great example of Cava. Splendid as an aperitif, this sparkler is also a good match with light tapas, oysters and seafood.

Lo Nuevo Lunares Verdejo, SpainVerdejo is an ancient and favored grape of Rueda, the white wine producing area of Spain.

This wine is very aromatic with bright pineapple, spring flowers and peach aromas. On the palate the wine is lengthy, full-flavored, slightly creamy, ripe with vibrant, juicy pineapple, passion fruit and fresh herbs. Dense in flavor, with a finish that beckons another taste!

Cupcake Malbec, Argent inaThe long, relatively dry season, cool evenings and stony alluvial soils of Mendoza allows our Malbec to fully mature and ripen into dark and delicious berries. This wine has a heady, yet dry nose with aromas of blueberries and leather.

The palate has intense flavors of chocolate, mocha and plums, matched by a soft velvety texture and hint of spice. It finishes with a note of toasted oak.

Kim Crawford Unoaked Chardonnay, New ZealandThis wine does not hide behind any oak. It’s a crisp wine that tastes of the succulence and freshness of the grape.

White peach, grapefruit and melon with a hint of pineapple flavors are supported by a soft and textured mouthfeel. It may have no oak, but this wine has an abundance of character. Perfect with all seafood, delicate white meats and creamy pasta dishes.

Carmen Carmenére, ChileFounded in 1850, Carmen is the oldest, most experienced winery in Chile. Combined with the variety of its holdings of vineyards in the country’s best growing zones, this allows it to produce a wide range of fine Chilean wines. Carmen Gran Reserva wines are the highest expression of their respective grape varieties from extremely low yielding single vineyards and are aged for 10-12 months in French oak barrels.

A red wine with an intense, violet-ruby color. The bouquet is fruity with strong plum, cherry, and mulberry notes. The flavor is complex, with jams, spinach, and chocolate. Barrel aging lends this wine pleasant smoky and toast notes, bringing out its spices; texture is soft, with rounded tannins and medium body.

Be. Flirty Pink Moscato, CaliforniaNotes of ripe mandarin orange and pink grapefruit unfold with delicate rosewater on the palate. This mischievous Moscato is made to be sipped with a wink and a smile. Rich berry and delicate tropical and floral notes dance on the tongue for a luscious taste and juicy finish, sealed with a kiss of pink.

wine selections

There are five basic steps in tasting wine: color, swirl, smell, taste and savor.These are also known as t he “Five S” steps.

wine tasting tips

SeeA wine’s color is better judged by putting it against a white background. The wine glass is put at an angle in order to see the colors. Colors can give the taster clues to the grape variety, and whether the wine was aged in wood.

SwirlSwirling wine is best done against a white or lightly-hued background. This allows for a full contrast between the beverage and it’s surroundings - particularly in a dimly-lit tasting area. A taster should first gently swirl the wine around the glass and watch for “legs” to appear. Wine “legs” are streaks of wine that appear after swirling. If a wine leaves legs, it is most likely a dense, sweeter wine.

Make sure your glass is no more than half full, then swirl the glass at a 180 degree angle. Keep swirling the drink for 10-15 seconds.

SniffAs soon as the wine stops moving from side to side, put your nose directly over the glass, then sniff. The scents of the wine will have separated. Any fruit aromas will have sunken to the bottom of the glass while any floral aromas will have risen to the top. Inhale through your nose several times and try and pinpoint the exact scent. Does the wine smell flowery? Oaky? Spicy?

SipStart with a small sip of the wine and let it warm in your mouth for a few seconds by letting it roll over the tongue. As the wine warms, more of the bouquet and aroma is released. Notice the various tastes. Is the wine Sweet? Sour? Spicy? Peppery? Bitter? Earthy?

SavorNow that you have tasted the wine, think about it. Talk about it. Share it with your friends. You might record some of your impressions. Did you like the wine overall? How was the wine’s acidity? Was it well balanced? Does it taste better with cheese, bread or a heavy meal? Will you buy it again? If so, jot the wine’s name, producer and vintage year down for future reference.