Wine Bloggers Getting Ready for the Virtual Wines of Chile Tasting on October 13, 5:00 p.m. PT

Being a wine blogger has opened up a whole new world to me, which is really a lot of fun and filled with adventures in not only wine tasting, but also the industry… period…

It’s become really easy to be out and about on a lot of levels.

In the non-wine tasting world, but deeply connected and very satisfying…

On Tuesday evening, I was at Sonoma State University, presenting PR and marketing concepts to a wine marketing class. It’s come full circle from my own days of studying wine sales and marketing. I brought Jose to the class with me, so he could address the direct sales aspects of the business, while I focused on social media and traditional PR. I can only imagine how overwhelming it might be right now for new people starting out… I don’t see how anyone could graduate with a degree, and be expected to jump in with the level of competency that I’ve developed over the last 18 years in this career. Maybe that’s why I’m now the one doing the splainin.’

In the wine tasting world, and very stimulating…

I was invited to taste Chilean wines from the comfort of my home, along with many other bloggers.

We’re all going to be tasting and then reporting. I’m working on it ahead of time, because with eight wines delivered to me, this seems like a great Wine Century Club tasting taken to Chinois… I dared to dream… that within those eight wines, we’d have at least one cultivar to add to our obscure wine lists. We’re all striving for getting members over that 100 wine benchmark. (I’m headed for 200.)

This is the fourth virtual Wines of Chile Blogger Tasting, on Wednesday, October 13, from 8:00-10:00 p.m. eastern standard time. Be prepared to be reading about others adventures, too.

Cesar Morales, a winemaker for Emiliana, will lead the tasting of some of Chile’s most remarkable red blends, which are going to be perfect for fall. Winemakers from eight of Chile’s most highly-regarded wineries will answer questions, as bloggers will sample the unique variety of Chilean reds.

[In perfect grammar, for anyone striving to be grammatically correct:

Notice I wrote “varieties,” not varietals.

Variety is a noun, varietal is a adjective.

EXAMPLE: I love Pinot Noir as a variety. It always has really yummy plum varietal characteristics.]

Prior to the event I received a tasting kit with eight Chilean Red Blends, recipes that pair well with them, and additional info to make the experience as informative and enjoyable as possible.

I’m really enjoying the olive oil that was an additional gift. I’ve switched having butter on my toast in the morning to having lightly warmed bread and olive oil… Maybe I’ll shed these 10 extra pounds I hate by eating more thoughtfully.

The Art of the New Reds ~ Discovering the New Blends of Chile:

1. Valdivieso Eclat 2005 Maule Valley
2. De Martino Single Vineyard, Old Bush Vines, “Las Cruces” 2006, Cachapoal Valley
3. Estampa Gold Assemblage Carmenere 2008, Colchagua Valley
4. Montes Limited Selection Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenere 2008, Colchagua Valley
5. Maquis Lien, 2006, Colchague Valley
6. Hacienda Araucano Clos de Lolol 2008, Colchagua Valley
7. Emiliana Coyam 2007, Colchagua Valley
8. Casas del Bosque, Gran Estate Selection, Private Reserve 2007, Casablanca Valley

Varieties tasted in the blends from above, in alphabetical order:

1. Cabernet Franc
2. Cabernet Sauvignon
3. Carignan
4. Carmenere
5. Malbec
6. Mourvedre
7. Petite Verdot
8. Pinot Noir
9. Syrah

None are new to me, but I’m betting that others in our group might be enjoying Carmenere for the first time.