Dan and Ellen O’Connell at The Wine Shop in Koloa. Photo courtesy of The Wine Shop.
Tasting Kauai is happy to partner with the O’Connells for Winesday with The Wine Shop. Owners Dan and Ellen O’Connell are a delightful couple whose passion for wine is infectious, their knowledge is vast, and their service is friendly. Their beautiful store carries everything from wine and spirits to gourmet foods and sweet treats. Check in with Tasting Kauai every Wednesday to learn about their favorites. ¡Salud! Continue Reading →
This week we are featuring Pinot Noir. The regions covering from the upper reaches of the Oregon/Washington border and south to Santa Barbara, California, offer the most diverse growing climate and terroir in the world for these grapes. The varietal Pinot Noir itself is the most difficult grape to work with for wine makers because of its very thin skin and susceptibility to many pests and viruses.
This week, we share with you a luscious Zinfandel called Saldo. The grapes are sourced from some of the best Zin growing areas that California has to offer. Old vines seem to be the key to producing a great tasting Zinfandel. The 2010 Saldo is nothing short of spectacular. It has a deep, deep ruby red color and the nose has hints of black and blueberry spice. When you sip the wine over your palate the true Zinfandel characteristics come alive. These unique flavors include cherries, Loganberry, and plum pudding with a hint of white pepper and leather.