my weekend in wine

I took a low key trip down to the Tidewater region of Virginia, where I grew up, to say goodbye to some family friends before the big move. I haven’t done anything particularly exciting, which is the beauty of a weekend here, and I’ve just been enjoying relaxing time with people I love.

Also, as you may know, it has been 104 degrees or hotter for the past week, so I really haven’t had the motivation to do anything. Heat tires you out!

But in an effort to occasionally put more affordable wine reviews on here, and flex my very small wine muscle, our family friend Megan (my “Mommy Megan”) and I forced ourselves to drink wine. What a chore.

Quara Malbec and Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon

Now, the Quara brand is special to me for a few reasons. It is from the Cafayate region of Argentina, and most Argentine wines that we see in the states are from Mendoza. Mendoza is a little overrated in my opinion. When I traveled to Cafayate the summer I lived in Argentina, I tried the Torrontes (a white wine whose grape only grows in Argentina!) and their Cab Sav but never the Malbec. Well the Malbec was very disappointing. Megan thought the same. We actually poured out our second glasses and still have some left in the bottle. Not sure who we can pawn that off too… But I do recommend the Torrontes and if you like mellow reds, get the Cab Sav, but the Malbec had way too much tannin for us to handle and had a very bitter aftertaste on the palate. Not enjoyable. $9.

The Beringer Founder’s Estate Cab Sav was much better, as I am partial to Cab Savs over all reds. It had the mellow almost sweet taste that I’m used to from Cab Savs and it seriously had a buttery aftertaste, something I’ve only experienced in white wines! Quite a good find for its price and I recommend this one if you’re looking for a cheap but good bottle of red. $10.

Then last night we ordered Chinese and watched “Strange Sex” on TLC, which is best enjoyed with a bottle of wine. We opened up another Argentine Malbec with higher hopes than the Quara.

Callia Malbec

This Callia Malbec was so much better and highly recommended. It definitely had the spice taste that you expect in a Malbec but wasn’t nearly as bitter (less tannin taste) than the other. This bodega is also special to me because it is next door to one that I visited while in the San Juan province of Argentina. San Juan is another great region for wine that is rarely seen in the states. Seriously, look outside of Mendoza! This region has a desert climate and really loamy soil which makes for really awesome grapes and I really enjoyed touring the bodega next door to Callia (which isn’t imported here, sadly) and tasting their wines. I highly recommend this if you’re looking to try out some Argentine Malbecs, which Argentina is very well known for. $10.

So that is my weekend in wine! I’m leaving my family friends’ house today and driving another 40 minutes down to Virginia Beach, where I lived January-May if you remember, to visit my best friend Harris’s parents. I miss living with them and the puppy so much so I’m going to say goodbye before I move. But Mona’s best friend from high school lives in Austin so I’m sure I’ll see her soon! Harris is moving to France for a year, so he’s another story. I might not see him