The Stump Jump Wine

d'Arenberg The Stump Jump

 

This bottle of wine was supplied by a friend of mine when we stopped at our local Uncork and Create for a little painting fun.  My first reaction was regarding the label and how strange looking the bold lettering stood out.  Most labels get extremely fancy in order to draw the wine lover in enough to sample what is hidden inside.  However, this label looked rather plain and I might not have given it a second glance if I found it among others while shopping for a new bottle.  The words are all blocked and get smaller as you go down the label.  Little did I know that this was the look the company was going for when making the label.  The humor it seems is that if you can hold the bottle out at arm’s length and you can still correctly read the letters on the bottom line then you can have another glass.  This to me was priceless and I find it a great conversation to have while sharing a glass with your friends.

After the bottle was opened and my glass was poured, I immediately fell in love with the color.  It has a reddish purple color with a hint of cherry and oak smells.  The taste is a mix of fruity with a hint of chocolate and a kick of pepper.  I'm a sucker for anything cholcolate.

With most wines, the names are somewhat confusing and weird to say for me and this one is no different.  I had to do some research into the name alone.  "Stump Jump" comes from the South Australian invention, the Stump Jump plough.  What is this, you ask (I know I did).  Think plow.  The plough was invented by Richard Bowyer Smith around the late 19th century to save time and energy riding over stumps and roots as he prepared his mallee lands for cultivation.  "Stump Jump" is used as a way to say thanks since the lands were around McLaren Vale (Australian).

 

As listed on the d'Arenberg website, this wine is made in the traditional way all their red wines are, by the use of fermenting in headed-down open fermenters prior to the use of basket-presses.  It is left to mature before bottling in barriques and other casks.    

 

I always love being introduced to a new bottle of wine and have added this one to my favorite list.

Kenwood Yulupa Cuvee Brut Sparkling Wine

Kenwood Yulupa Cuvee Brut

This summer, like most, has completely pasted me by in a blur.  Lots of fun in the sun and of course some great new wines that I have stumbled upon and need to write about.

This bottle, Kenwood Yulupa Cuvee Brut, was actually a gift from one of my favorite restaurants,  Tidewater Grill.  My date and I was having such a good time that the staff thought we were celebrating our anniversary and wanted to surprise us with a bottle of wine.  The surprise was actually on them when we spilled the beans that it was only our third date.  They took it in stride and gave us the bottle to wish us many more years together to come. 

If you have reviewed my other wine posts, you will have already figured out that I love a dessert wine or as my friends say "sugar water".  Call it what you will but I find them refreshing and very enjoyable.

I'm not much of a drinker but since it was a gift, I felt I had to drink at least one glass.  With the first taste of this wine, I was hooked.  I loved the light fruit flavor and citrus aromas.  I had no trouble drinking my first glass or the second.  It also went wonderful with my blackened chicken breast, steamed broccoli and rice pilaf; which you will have to ask for because Tidewater no longer has the blackened chicken on the menu.  Be warned before you get this dish because it is extremely spicy and you will want to have a huge glass of water while eating it.  If you love spicy food, then this is a must try if you ever find yourself in the area.  

Now that I have found the time to write this blog, I did a little research on how the wine is made and its makers.  Yulupa Cuvee Brut (a blend of Chenin Blanc, French Colmbard, Chardonnary and Pinot Noir) is a medium dry sparkling wine made in California from harvested grapes gently pressed (using traditional "whole cluster" system) before they reach full maturity.  Kenwood states that it's this gently pressing that helps the wine retain the fruit essence.  The wine ages for approximately 10 months in stainless steel tanks before 1.5% sugar (also known as "dosage") is added before it will be ready for bottling.  The alcohol volume is listed at 11% and a 750 ml bottle will run you about $10.00.

For any dessert wine drinking, I would suggest you give this bottle a try.  I will be adding it to my personal wine supply and look forward to my next glass soon.   

Rosa Regale

The first wine I ever tasted and loved was Rosa Regale.  I'm not much of a beer drinker because I can't seem to like the taste and they all taste the same to me.  Wine on the other hand is more sweet and smooth on the tongue.  My first glass of this wine was free which sort of made it even better.  For my 9th wedding anniversary, We had a romantic night at The Melting Pot and our waiter (upon finding out it was our anniversary) brought us a glass of this wine with a fresh strawberry.  The food and the wine was the best part of the night, with the wine becoming my all time favorite.

I will never forget the first taste.  Rosa Regale is a sparking, semi-dry red wine.  It was sweet, unlike a lot of wines I have tried since, but not to sugary that left that need to brush my teeth after drinking feeling.  It has a nice hint of strawberry but not enough that it overpowers the drink and it really goes well with chocolate covered strawberries.   

Rosa Regale is made in Italy is the small production zone the Brachetto d’Acqui Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG).  It is made from 100% Brachetto grapes exclusively grown at La Rosa Vineyard.  The single red rose on the label represents this vineyard.

 

This wine is rather hard to fine so I normally will buy out the stock when I happen to find it in my local stores.  I've paid between $19-$25 per bottle which is rather pricey for an every day wine.  But I can promise you, you will love every drop.