Grapes: A mutt… grapes from this vineyard: Marquette, Landau, Chambourcin, Marechal Foch, Concord, Frontenac.
Taste/Nose: Berry taste, some melon. A lighter red.
Food Pair: Tangy pasta dishes.
Label: Lavallette Yacht club sunrise.
Misc: A good table wine in general, definitely for the dry wine lover.
Fun Fact: The ridge line that Ventimiglia Vineyard is on is called the Rocky Ridge, thus the name..
Price: $17.00
Grapes: Chambourcin – a grape that grows well in the Mid-Atlantic states from NY and NJ to WV.
Taste/Nose: A simple, earthy wine with black fruitiness bouquet. Well balanced.
Food Pair:Â Bleu Cheese, Dark Chocolate, good for Sangria, and with brighter fruits such as raspberry, strawberry, citrus. Good with Pork dishes or crawfish, a nice lunch BBQ wine as well.
Label: The Crushing process here at the winery.
Misc:Â This is a good everyday wine. It can go with any food, or stand on its own. It has a beautiful color depth, but is still lighter in body.
Fun Fact: This grape is growing in popularity in Germany.
Price: $21.00
Grapes: Carignane from CA
Taste/Nose: Smooth and easy, but complex taste that lingers in your mouth. Leaves a warming finish. Nose is aromatic, carrying fruits and a touch of spice.
Food Pair: Enjoy this wine with a wide array of food… Lamb, red sauce, pizza, pasta, herby chicken. Supports a big, heavier meal while compliments lighter meals. Enhances herbs like wild thyme.
Label: Gene’s grandfathers village Rocco Cilento, Italy (near Salerno) as painted by his mother, Marguerite.
Misc: Gene’s grandfather made this wine. It is the family wine Gene grew up with. It is a nice easy table wine.
Fun Fact: The grape is a Spanish/French grape variety that needs a warm climate to grow. It is used to blend, make Rose wine, and was used as a primary source of jug wine from California for a time.
Price: $27.00
Grapes: Cabernet Franc –Parent grape, with Sauvignon Blanc, of Cabernet Sauvignon. This grape can be found as far back as the 17th century. Grows well in this region.
Taste/Nose: A blast of fruit in front with a mellow, quick finish. Woody/oak overtones, perhaps even a bit of almond on the nose.
Food Pair: Lamb/Pork/Veal lighter meals, anti pasta, richer shellfish.
Label: Photo taken by Gene’s nephew David of buildings in Rocco Cilento, Italy.
Misc: This wine is so soft that many who prefer sweet wine also like it.
Fun Fact: Cabernet Franc yields less grapes per acreage than Cabernet Sauvignon, another reason when you see it, it is often more expensive. Often used for blending with Cab Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style.
Price: $35.00
Grapes: Old Vine Zin, Petite Syrah, Carignane (CA grapes)
Taste/Nose: A full bodied red that is smooth. Bold, dark, acidic nose. Bold flavor with a bit of fruit to almost give it a sweetness. The finish is almost vanilla or leathery.
Food Pair: Beef dishes… steak, grilling food, pasta or tomato based dishes. Hard Cheeses. Possibly a pork scallopini with gorgonzola sauce.
Label: Grandfather’s Car: Father driving with Grandmother and Aunt standing next to it.
Misc: Another wine to have a sweet drinker try to show that a red, dry wine doesn’t need to be harsh. Drink this wine with food or without.
Fun Fact: There is no official age at which a Zinfandel plant get dubbed an “old vine,†but most people say the vine has to be at least 40 if not 50 years old.
Fratelli Ventimiglia means “Brothers Ventimigliaâ€
Price: $35.00
