Sometimes learning a bit about the history of a wine makes it even more interesting and adds a new dimension to it. That is because its development may have taken just a few decades, or even hundreds of years, or it may have come from a far away continent - adding to a wine's mystique. What is more, these wines are now available here, on our doorstep, and at prices we can afford!
The three wines below have histories that surprised me. I am sure they also have long futures ahead of them. Enjoy!
Casella Wines
2010 Lucky Penny White (110536)
Australia, $17.99
Here is a new wine from a company we have all grown to trust. For family-owned Casella Wines, Yellow Tail has been a huge success. This month the Casella family winery launched a new line in British Columbia. Two wines called Lucky Penny, a red and a white, and each blended with three varietals. Both of these wines are $17.99 a bottle and I think that these too will appeal to a wide variety of wine lovers and be another success story for John Casella.
Casella Wines got its start when Filippo Casella and his wife emigrated from Sicily to Yenda, Australia in 1951. They began growing grapes for other wineries and later purchased a farm on the fringe of the Yenda township in 1965. In 1969, after successfully selling the grapes from his farm to local wineries, he decided to build a winery. His son John took over the family winery in 1994, after 12 years of managing wineries for others, and in 2000 he launched the Yellow Tail brand. By 2003 Yellow Tail was the largest imported brand in the U.S. and today has markets in 50 countries worldwide.
When I picked up the bottle of white I made an assumption that it was going to be a more youthful wine based on its bright greenish tinge. When I poured a glass, however, it actually turned out to be a warm gold in colour and the clever use of a pale blue bottle had tricked my expectations. The 2010 Lucky Penny white wine is a blend of Chardonnay, Viognier and Pinot Grigio and has very fruity aromas with both tree and tropical fruits. Apricot, pineapple, melon and hints of honey are plainly evident on the nose. On the palate, this light to medium-bodied wine is fruit laden with enough acidity to keep it fresh, and with a light lingering finish. Serve this wine chilled on its own or with fruit salad, grilled chicken or white fish.
Casella Wines
2009 Lucky Penny Red (112219)
South East Australia, $17.99
The Lucky Penny red is a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The grapes are sourced throughout south-east Australia and brought back to the winery in New South Wales. Here the grapes are fermented separately in contact with oak using high temperatures to ensure colour and tannin extraction. After fermentation the wines are blended to taste, bottled and aged for a year before release. Each component brings its own characteristic to both the aromas and flavours and in the end or in the glass we have a wine with plum, black cherry and black berries with some vanilla and spice aromas. In the mouth, this medium-bodied wine has good balance of fruit, acidity and tannins that make it a crowd pleaser whether you serve it with roast pork, roast chicken, strong cheese or even chocolate.
La Capra
2009 Shiraz (143537)
South Africa, $14.99
In 1937, Charles Back, a butcher and produce merchant, purchased a vineyard in Paarl, South Africa. Grapes were first planted on this plot of land in 1699 by early Dutch settlers. Today, Charles' grandson owns Fairview Vineyards and operates the winery producing a line called La Capra. The La Capra 2009 Shiraz (143537) is another wine that is new to our store. This full-bodied red wine has been aged in older French and American oak barrels lending the aromas of spice, vanilla and dried fruit. In the mouth, however, the flavours are fresh and fruity, but not jammy. Cane fruits like blackberries and raspberries abound, with a touch of black pepper. This South African Shiraz promises to transport you to a magical place, and, although I didn't quite make it there, I did enjoy it. It is good on its own, and it would pair well with slowly-cooked roast beef, mashed potatoes and creamed vegetables. $14.99
