Our August meeting was a private wine tasting event led by Liz Gibson from the Essex Wine School and was held in the Witham Town Hall Council Chamber.
Our theme was “Islands and Highlands”. Group members and guests enjoyed a guided wine tasting afternoon, paired with an excellent selection of food brought by group members.
We learned how temperatures drop at higher elevations and cool nights help the grapes keep their natural acidity resulting in crisp balanced wines. Vineyards closer to the sun receive stronger UV sunlight and grapes react by growing thicker darker skins to protect themselves. This increases tannins, creating deeper colour, and intensified flavour. Strong mountain winds and dry air also keep the vines healthy needing fewer chemical sprays and therefor are more organic.
Similarly, Island wines surrounded by the sea are affected by sea breezes and cooler maritime conditions. Often with volcanic soils giving good drainage and acting like a blanket to trap morning dew in arid island climates like the Canary Islands. These islands are often isolated and terrains mean creative growing and harvesting often by hand.
We tasted six wines “A Priori” Mantinea Moschofilero a white wine harvested from grapes grown at 650 metres above sea level in the coolest region of Greece. Second an Island white wine “Zibibbo Sicilia “from Valderice in the west of Sicily.
Our last white was a Chardonnay Kipu Gualtallary from Argentina, harvested from grapes grown 1350 metres above sea level.
Moving on to a red from the island of Tenerife “Piedra Fluida Magec”, a very personal wine first produced after the 2023 wildfires and a percentage of proceeds supporting environmental projects on the island.
A second red from the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna grown 700 metres above sea level, “Etna Rosso Monte Gorna “
Our last wine was an exhibition Mendoza Malbec. Produced at high altitude by Catena the oldest estate in Argentina, pioneers in the quality revolution of Malbec, a fitting ending to our presentation.
A very enjoyable afternoon and our thanks to Liz for another first rate presentation.