Friday, May 17, 2019

Cork Poppers Go South of the Border!

It's time to go South of the Border with Cork Poppers and check out some wines from South America. (Actually, our theme included wines from Mexico but no one could find one!) We gathered at Bob's house with wine and food in hand for a delicious and tasty tasting day!


Our first wine was from Roger, a Lolea Frizzante White Sangria, No. 2. Comments ranged from "It smells great" to "I can see why this is a summer beach wine.


Many of us thought it was too sweet, though it was a sangria and super cold would indeed be tasty on a beach. I thought it was too sweet for just sipping a glass of wine but on a hot day at the lake, I'd like it! Anne called it "Very tasty" and Bob said "I think it is very good," but I think many of us agreed with Roger who said, "I was first attracted to the bottle." Cost: $15.99 at World Market.

Cheryl was next with a Gouguenheim Valle Escondido Torrontes 2016, a white wine from the Mendoza Valley in Argentina. This was a nice and quite dry white. Kate called it "The red wine drinker's white." Cheryl, our white wine fan, said she didn't "enjoy it as much as I hoped to." Cost: $16 at Vine and Brew, a local wine store.


At this time, hostess Heather, Bob's daughter, said, "I'm a cheap wine drinker" and then said, "I have to behave." Mike M. reassured her. "Only for about a half hour or so."


Bob was up next with a Long Country 2018 Sauvignon Blanc from Chile. This one the budget price of the day -- $5 at Meijer stores. Cheryl, Mike S. and I liked this one better than the white before us (at $16!). Barb and Kate liked the second wine better.


In any event, it makes for an excellent Neti pot and sinus cleaner, which I discovered when I was laughing so hard -- well, you get the idea.


Dick offered our first red -- Echeverria Family Wines' Gran Reserve Syrah 2014 from Chile. This group was named as Chile's Producer of the Year and the description described it as as "deep red with violet gleams." None of us knew what violet gleams were and in any event, most of us heard it as "violent greens," which was equaly confusing.


Rick said, "I might get addicted to it," and Bob added "Even if you don't like red, you'd like this." Heather said she liked "any wine you don't have to pay for" but Kate smelled "new cars and plastic" when she sipped it. It was a little light for me. $15 at the local Vine and Brew.

Kate was up next with Colome Vineyard Autentico Malbec 2017 from the Mendoza region of Argentina. Barb said, "It has a little barnyard in it," (referring to its earthy quality, not aroma). Kate and Barb agreed it had a gorgeous color and was very earthy with a lot of body. This one was $24.85 at Vine and Brew.


Around this time Barb realized that the towel Dick was using to pour looked like a Rorschach test and decided it was a man walking an English setter.

Clayton offered a Cantina Malbec 2016 from Argendina's Mendozea by Bodea y Vinedos Cardena. It's a high mountain wine and he found it at Meijer stores but I forgot to write down the price. Barb called it "soft" and I thought it more fruity than the one before. Clayton said it had notes of "leather and cinnamon" which Barb heard as "liver and cinnamon." Kate said that at this point, she was past intelligent comment.


This and the one before it were both malbecs. I thought the first one would be better with food, this one for just enjoying a glass of wine.


Barb and Mike offered up a Pirca 2015 Carmenere from Vina Marty in Chile. This was $10.


My notes say "Buy this now!" I thought it was very good and Kate said, "I love it! I love this!" It also smelled wonderful and I called it my favorite so far. And yes, it would be delish with a cheese toastie and a bag of Doritos.


Rick was last with Serie Riberas Gran Reserva Carmenere 2017 from Chile. This cost $20 at Tiffany wine shop in Kalamazoo.


This one was quite good too. Indeed, there was none left in the bottle as it was passed around after the first tasting. To be honest, I didn't really have a preference between this Carmenere and the one before -- they were slightly different but both good.


Well, after all that merriment, it was time to hang out and chat, and eventually move upstairs for dinner! Bob and Heather had made wonderful floral table decorations for our South of the Border theme!


I loved these!


And the food was to die for. There were tacos, beans, rice, two wonderful salads, a Topopo and a taco salad.


All this was topped off by Meredith's fabulous Mexican Chocolate Cake and tons of equally delicious conversation!


It was like being in a field of beautiful flowers with your friends taking all the time in the world to just enjoy one another's company.


Because really, that's what it's all about!


If you enjoy wine and want to check out some of the other Cork Popper tastings, check the tab on the menu at the top of this page. Wines are organized by category and theme.

Sharing with:  Follow the Yellow Brick Home    /  Best of the Weekend    /    Pink Saturday    /     Let's Keep In Touch     /     Share Your Style          /     Tuesday Turn About     

48 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hello Jeanie,

I do enjoy your notes on the wine tastings with your friends. I have had tried some Malbec from South America, they are good. I have not tried many whites, maybe a cheap white sangria from Australia. I am going to write a note on some of these and see if I can find them, the Pirca from Chile sounds good too.

Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend.

R's Rue said...

Yummy

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Sounds like a fun evening!

Misadventures of Widowhood said...

I really enjoy your reading about your corker gatherings. You guys sure know how to have fun. I used to LOVE Sangria when I was in my 20s. No wine could ever be too sweet for me.

Vicki @ lifeinmyemptynest said...

I'm interested in the Sangria if I can find it somewhere besides World Market. Fun for the beach is right :-)

Miss Val's Creations said...

We buy all our wine at World Market as members. No one else comes close to their price! Violet gleams? We laugh at descriptions like hint of lead or tar or something equally bizarre. Looks like a perfect party. I love the make your own taco spread! Trying wines is always a good time.

Linda said...

How fun!

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

Your wine tasting group sounds like great fun. The food looks fabulous too!

NanaDiana said...

LOL- I have such a low alcohol tolerance that I would be under the table after I had the first taste of Bottle#1. It sure was fun to read everyone's comments though about each offering. So much fun!

Have a wonderful weekend- hope you will stay sober for it. lol xoDiana

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

This would have been my favorite get together! LOVE the wines and the food....oh my! All of my favs! ENJOY!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Quite a bit of the wine we buy is from Chile and Argentina, especially the Malbecs from Mendoza and we really enjoy them, and they are not highly priced. The food looks absolutely fabulous so I am sure you all ate and drank well. You obviously always have a great time at these get togethers.

Valerie-Jael said...

Sounds like a wonderful evening with lots of good wines and plenty of fab food, yummy. Love the pretty glasses, too. Have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie

Joyful said...

You look like you had a great time and as always there were many wines to sample! The food and table decor look divine too and the conversations look like they were engrossing :-)

Lowcarb team member said...

Looks and sounds a wonderful time shared with friends …
It's just before 7pm here on Friday evening and I have a nice glass of chilled Sauvignon Blanc Eddie has just poured for me … so cheers :)

All the best Jan

William Kendall said...

I'd be out of my depth with wine tasting.

Jenny Woolf said...

My first thought was that you had all booked a flight together and gone to Mexico...! Then common sense kicked in. :) What a nice post, it sounds as if so much merriment was had by all. I am full of admiration for anyone who can create such beautiful table decoration and foods to go with the wine. And how nice indeed to be with a group of friends who just like to enjoy the company. Lovely cheerful post, Jeanie!

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

This sounds like fun! :D

DUTA said...

The food table looks indeed "to die for".

My name is Erika. said...

That food sure looks yummy. But even better are those gorgeous wine glasses. I don't know if I've had many South American wines so it was interesting to read this post. Hugs-Erika

Anonymous said...

Jeanie, all that food looks so delicious! Love the wine glasses. I am not a wine connoisseur. They all taste too similar to me. xo

Annie said...

Hi Jeanie,

I think I would buy Lolea, no matter what wine it contained. I want that bottle.

Great to see your smile. I'm back to visiting blogs. I have not done so for too long.

Sami said...

I like the Sangria bottle too, and it would probably be the best wine for me who likes sweet drinks.
I'm surprised after all that tasting you all could still climb stairs, lol. The food looked delicious and the paper flowers are very pretty.

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I never thought I liked Sangria, as the only one I had tasted was at a relative's house which was a punch bowl of some sort of red wine with big slices of citrus fruit floating around in it. Then this past year, I had some on vacation. I don't know how they made it, but it was really good! So I might try a few kinds this summer as my summer drink. Thanks for all the suggestions, Jeanie! Once again, you folks know how to have a fun evening! -Jenn

Pam Richardson said...

Jeanie, I always enjoy your Cork Poppers because y’all have so much fun. Seeing the Malbecs made me think of an amazing trip I made to Argentina and South America. The food and wine were outstanding. Thanks for sharing your good times!

Victoria Zigler said...

Despite not drinking wine (or anything alcaholic, really) I always love these posts. It's interesting reading your comments. But mostly I love the wonderful time you all have together.

Pamela said...

This looks so fun! I want to join!

La Table De Nana said...

I love the flowers and tacos..and the WM bottle:) LOL.I am attracted by labels also:)

Carol said...

This sounds like a wonderful evening! I love a good glass of white wine! I enjoy others, but white wine is my absolute favorite!

Jemma@athomewithjemma said...

Jeanie,
How completely delightful! Love the friendship, good wine, great food and seeing you all smile!
Fun! Fun! Fun!
Happy Saturday!
J.

Susan Kane said...

A delightful time with those whom you love!

mmmm...wines.

Iris Flavia said...

Beautiful glasses! And the bottle, my Gurri would rush to it!

Aha, "some" have to behave (for some time) :-)
Bet you´d love to meet Nonno Duilio! My only wine-tasting (so far)!

Love your scetch!
And it all looks so lovely and yummy!! And healthy, too! Oh - and... fun! :-)

bobbie said...

Me thinks a good time was had by all!

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Hi Jeanie. Unfortunately, I have never acquired a huge taste for wine, but you all seem to do it up right and have so much fun that if I lived close I might join up! I could make short work of that menu, though..Happy Weekend..xxoJudy

BeachGypsy said...

love the pretty table and the decorations and oh my!!---that supper looks DELICIOUS!! Can I have seconds, please? LOL looks like y'all had a great time! I'm still laughing over the violet greens or i probably would have read it as ...... the violent gleams, haha ha LOL

Marilyn Miller said...

Love the theme for the gathering, as Mexican food it up there on my list of favorites. The food looks amazing. Love the wine glassed too. What a fun gathering.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Even though I don't drink wine and wouldn't know a red from a white, except for color, I always love following along on your Cork Popper posts. This one, South of the Border was both colorful and the food looked delicious, too. Most impressive, dear Jeanie.

Sally Wessely said...

This group is the best! You know, I just had an idea. You could take all these posts about about the wine tasting you all have done and publish a book. Seriously. I think it would be a best seller. Between the stories you tell and the notes you have made on wines, you already have the material. You should do it! Have you ever considered publishing a book?

The food looks amazing.

Anca said...

What a wonderful time to have with friends and trying all sorts of wines. It's been lovely to read your descriptions, some are so funny.

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Looks like great time was had by all...Joe stopped drinking over 31 years ago after a 30 day stay in a Detox Center and the threat of divorce so we have not drank any type of alcohol since then. Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Hugs,
Debbie

Pam said...

Oh so much fun....I used to be a wine drinker but it started triggering my asthma and some major hitting migrains. Last glass I had produced one of the worst headaches I ever had. I might have a beer here and there but pretty much not having anything like that. But looks like you guys have a great time.

The Liberty Belle said...

Looks ideal! What a fun thing to do! I'm particularly interested in that first bottle. I enjoy a sweet wine.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

You always have a fun way to gather with friends, Jeanie. Besides those wines, I also liked seeing the glasses! I too am a cheap wine drinker and sadly not much of a connoisseur.

Red Rose Alley said...

The taco table looks Yummy. Tacos are one of my favorite meals. It's always nice to see your wine posts, Jeanie, so I can see the different wines out there. Me and Jess are going to a Winery soon for my niece's bridal shower. Should be fun. This looks like a nice gathering with friends, and a sweet picture of you and your friend. The paper flowers are creative on the table. : )

~Sheri

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

Such a fun night! Sauvignon Blanc is my favorite wine so I would have enjoyed that part of the tasting. And I'm always a fan of food from south of the border! Tacos are one of my favorite meals!

Preppy Empty Nester said...

I wish I could join your wine club!! Enjoy your week, dear Jeanie.

French Ethereal said...

Too funny! Reminds me of a wine pairing I went to with a group of parents from Boy Scouts (none of the kids were there for this Valentine's dinner, only parents). We all brought a dish and a paired wine and I do remember Malbecs being poured... Well, seven or eight glasses of wine later... This tee-totaller was really zonked! Good wines and food ~ lots of fun! :)

Nice reviews,
Barb :)

Tracy said...

SERIOUS YUMS and GOOD EATS... WOW... I wish my hand could jump through the screen and grab a taco and a glass! It's been a week here, so I could do with a drink.. haha! ;) We've had some nice Chilean and Argentinian wines, and often at not too bad prices, either. You guys have such FUN... just love to see it all! ((HUGS))

Rita C at Panoply said...

I love this group and these posts, Jeanie. I saved this so I could enjoy reading it. Though I don't retain much, there's great info in all these. The meal looked outstanding!

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