Hi, my name is Vincent and I have chosen to write a blog for you lovely people about one of my favourite wine types and also about my favourite wine making country. Before starting to work at Virgin Wines I had no interest in wine whatsoever. However since starting my first role here at Virgin Wines as a customer service provider I have learnt a lot! Within the first 2 – 3 years I had picked up the basic knowledge about wines such as grape types and the regions that wine making countries are famous for. Then Virgin Wines saw fit to put me through my WSET which boosted my knowledge more than I could have hoped for! I now do Stock Control and Logistics for the company and have been doing so for the past 9 – 10 months.
My Favourite Grape
My favourite grape is the extremely fragile yet extremely versatile Pinot Noir! I have tried a lot of wines over the years working for Virgin and I do have ones that I enjoy (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot) however the Pinot Noir grape for me is head and shoulders above the rest. This wonderful grape is one of the hardest to grow and is known as the Noble red grape from Burgundy! Unlike Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the Pinot Noir grape will reliably grow in a cooler climate. Another interesting fact about the pinot noir grape is that the majority of the wine that is made from it is Champagne. Because there are very little tannins within the skin and the skin is so fine this red grape can be used to make a white sparkling wine that France is most famous for. In fact more Pinot Noir is used in Champagne than is used within the Cote d’Or.
Chile
Chile is an up and coming wine making country that has only recently been able to export wines due to strict exporting laws being lifted. The first records of wine growing activity date back to the 1500s however the rest of the world only started to experience these wonderful wines in the 1980’s! With the conditions in Chile being perfect for growing grapes they have had a lot of praise over the last few years for wines that are being created. To put into perspective as to how much Chile has grown as an exporter over the last 2 and a bit decades; In 1984 they exported a mere 2% of their wine where as they now export 70% of their wines which accounts for roughly 8% of the worlds wine upon which they are credited.
Tierra Del Corazon Pinot Noir 2011
This wine is gorgeous! Ruby red in colour; it has been given extra time for the grapes to slowly ripen which has introduced flavours such as cherries and plums with a hint of strawberry. A portion of this pinot noir was aged in French oak barrels to give it a lovely hint of vanilla which complements the soft tannins found in this wine. With a slight spice on the finish this would be well suited to a roast chicken dish or because it’s that soft it can even be drunk on its own. Please note that the Tierra Del Corazon Pinot Noir 2011 is exclusive to Virgin Wines and is hand crafted by the very talented Roberto Carranca.
I have recommended this wine to 5 people. Two of whom “do not like pinot noir” and the other three “do not like red wine” and all of them have come back to tell me that they enjoyed it. I would recommend a Chilean wine to anyone who finds old world not to their liking. For me Chile is a starting point for an easy introduction into the world of wine! So many different flavours to discover, there is bound to be something you like.
Vince
