Page 17 - Boca Club News - March '25

Boca Club News, Page 17
Grape Expectations: Dining Out on page 16

My Favorite Wine Regions showing their bulge we couldn’t walk without at least
From the Dessert Tray: Even with our stomachs

one sample of CVI.CHE desserts. We ended up with
By Ed Wolfarth, who moved to 2016!” It’s amazing that some can identify wines that a special dessert suggested by our excellent waiter
South Florida after retiring with his accurately. He was right. Besides the chards, The Russian Santiago; it is called Budín de pan…a simple peasant
wife, Vicki, as Professor of Sports River is famous for its Pinot Noirs. California Pinots are dessert but one that tasted like it should be for Kings.
Sciences & Physical Education at usually made, again, in a bigger style than their counterparts It’s delicious and easy to make with crusty bread, whole
both Queens College and Hofstra in Burgundy or other parts of the world. milk, eggs, raisins and berries. You have to try it.
University. He is a nationally ranked While most Pinots tend to be medium-bodied with alcohol There are several mainstays on this dessert menu,
senior tennis player and long-time levels around 13%, Russian River Pinots can go as high as including: Pie De Limon (key lime), Coconut flan,
USPTA Elite Teaching Professional. 14% ABV. Producers to seek out, on the high end, are Kistler, Suspiro Limeno, and a delicious Torta De Chocolate
Ed has written many educational Paul Hobbs and Rochioli. On the more affordable side look ($14) a spongy chocolate cake filled with Dulce de
and tennis articles in the past. Over the past few years, for DeLoach, Rodney Strong or Hartford. Leche.
Ed has turned his hobby of wine collecting into a way of Margaret River in western Australia, is my new favorite Check Please: I hope after reading this review that
continuing his passion for writing and has written on the wine region. Their Chardonnays and Cabernets are world class. you, too, might just want to deviate from the normal
subject for publications. As a self-proclaimed “wine snob,” For my taste buds their chards are well balanced with a hint steakhouses, chains and Italian restaurants that over-
he has collaborated on many wine lists for private clubs and of new oak, fruity and with terrific minerality. They are the saturate our community. We sometimes just reach a point
a few restaurants. Ed can be reached at wolfarth@msn.com. antithesis of Napa chards and more like a great Chablis. Look of boredom. Really, how much grilled steak and salmon
In order to explore the wine world many of us “winos” for Leeuwin, Cape Mentelle and Vasse Felix. I discovered can you eat?
will choose a grape varietal or favorite producer. I prefer Vasse Felix many years ago when I read that the Aussies Think about it. When was the last time you went to
to explore a wine region. Over the past few years I have considered it a cult wine. Great value but small production. an Indian restaurant? Or, even better, branched out to an
discovered fabulous wines being made in all corners of the While their single vineyard wines sell for $100 or more, the African or Jamaican eatery? There are so many different
world. Below are four of my favorites. Filius line sells for around $30 and is my go-to chard. types of cuisines now available within our city borders
Sonoma County. Of course, everyone knows about the Last year, the publication Wine Spectator rated the Vasse that there is no excuse for not eating outside-the-box.
Napa Valley wines of California. Most are heavily oaked Felix Filius Cabernet Sauvignon as the #2 value wine of Please give CVI.CHE 105 a try and you’ll realize that
and made in a big, bold style. Cabernet and Chardonnay the year. If you can find it I recommend you seek out Vasse there’s more to Peru than Machu Picchu.
wines stand out in the Napa Valley. The reds have flavors of Felix from the Margaret River. Other producers to look for The Hungry
red fruits, tobacco and mocha. The Chardonnays from Napa include Evans & Tate Cabernet, Moss Wood Cabernet and Squad would
have a deep golden color, often aged in oak barrels for a long Stella Bella Chardonnay. walk the Inca
time and taste of pineapple, pear, vanilla and hazelnut. Napa Alsace is another of my go-to regions for dry Rieslings Trail for more of
chards are commonly described as buttery. Not my favorites! and Pinot Gris. Much to the consternation of many wine what CVI.CHE has to offer, so we are giving this hard-
On the other hand, Sonoma Chardonnays are often drinkers, all Rieslings are not sweet. Alsace Rieslings have a working Peruvian restaurateur four golden Alpacas!
referred to as CCC, cold climate Chardonnay. They are more pale yellow color and green tint, a crisp finish and wonderful Note: Mystery solved!
balanced and less oaked. Sonoma’s climate is much closer to acidity. With some you can taste lemon, peach or grapefruit. • CVI: The name “CVI” is a nod to the Incas and their
the Pacific and, therefore, produces grapes with less alcohol I love dry Rieslings with all Asian foods, even the sweeter land.
but more fruit tastes. I prefer the “less is more” approach to versions like a Kabinett level Riesling from Germany. • CHE: “CHE” represents the gold of the Incas.
these chards. Some producers to seek out are Iron Horse, Another varietal to look for is Pinot Gris. Think of • 105: The number “105” may represent the many
Buena Vista, Chalk Hill, Simi and the Gallo Family. Pinot Gris as a fuller bodied Pinot Grigio. Look for Zind cities and lands of the Incas, such as Machu Picchu.
Another sub-region to look for is the Russian River. As Humbrecht, Trimbach, Marcel Deiss or any Alsatian
an aside, many years ago at an AFWC blind wine tasting I producer. All current vintages are excellent.
accurately identified a Sonoma cold climate chard among six I could go on, but as a wine snob it’s always fun seeking
other USA wines. At our table of “experts,” one winemaker out new wines, new regions and new tasting experiences.
said, “Very good, Ed,” and went on to say, “Russian River You should, too!