The Cellar: South American Under $15 Values

Steffen Rasch, GoLocalProv Wine Writer

The Cellar: South American Under $15 Values

If you’re anything like me the cold weather, coupled with the holiday season, is causing you to find an increasing amount of excuses to drink wine. I recently went on the hunt for under $15 values. This week I have decided to feature three wines, all from South America – one of the leading regions for value driven wines.

This week’s first featured wine is my local wine shops cheapest red wine – literally – it is the non-vintage Pepperwood Grove Cabernet Sauvignon priced at $6.99. I originally purchased this wine to make a sauce, however when some was leftover I decided to taste it as I would any other wine for review. And I was positively surprised. This medium+ bodied wine is ripe and delicious with just enough hints of savory leather and acid/tannic structure to bring it all in balance. Not super complex, but for 7 bucks this wine is worth seeking out. Among the ways production costs were kept low was to bulk-produce it from grapes not only sourced from several growers and vintages, but from throughout the vast Central Valley of Chile and then ship it to California in large containers to be bottled there, saving a bunch in transportation costs.

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A step up in quality, but still very reasonably priced at around $10 per bottle, is the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon from Los Vascos. This wine is made from grapes sourced from Estate vineyards in Colchagua Valley, a sub-region of Chile’s Central Valley. Los Vascos is owned by Domaines Barons de Rothschild who purchased the estate in 1988 because of its location near the ocean and its exceptional soils. Along with near ideal weather conditions, Los Vascos benefits from intense exposure to the sun, good water sources, semi-arid soils and little risk of frost. The ’14 Cab is medium-bodied displaying a lovely mix of dense ripe red fruits and slightly under-ripe blackcurrants. It is nicely balanced with notes of savory herbs. It has a more defined acidity and tannin structure than the Pepperwood.

The folks at Domaines Barons de Rothschild also have a project in Mendoza, Argentina where they have partnered with the highly regarded winemaker Nicolas Catena and created Bodegas Caro. I recently featured their flagship wine, the Caro. Today I want to highlight their 2013 Malbec called Aruma, also available for just over $10. This wine is a crowd-pleaser - soft and pleasant. The fruit profile is red with hints of ripe strawberries and cherries in the forefront alongside refreshing acidity.

Happy Holidays,

Steffen Rasch is a Certified Sommelier and Specialist of Wine. Feel free to email him at [email protected] with any wine-related questions or learn about wine in person by signing up for one of his tastings at the Providence Wine Academy.

10 New England Wine Getaways

Newport Vineyards

Newport Vineyards is the perfect Rhode Island destination for wine lovers year round. Visit the winery this weekend for tastings and tours, featuring an array of award winning wines.

909 E Main Road, Middletown, RI. (401) 848-5161.

Carolyn's Sakonnet Vineya

Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyards in Little Compton is much more than just a winery—it is a place to get away from the stresses of life and indulge your senses, a place to try new things, a place to focus on you. The vineyard is open every day, and invites you to come for a tasting and tour. Try their Petite Red, Vidal Blanc, and many more of their distinctive wines.

162 W Main Road, Little Compton, RI. (401) 635-8486.

Greenvale Vineyards

Visit Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth to sample their estate grown and produced wine, made in small batches. While at the estate, try seven different wines and keep the wine glass for only $12. While you are tasting, take in the gorgeous views of both the vineyard and river. Besides tasting the wines, Greenvale also invites customers to tour the winery and learn about the history and process of winemaking at the vineyard.

582 Wapping Road, Portsmouth, RI. (401) 847-3777.

Maugle Sierra Vineyards

For a trip to a vineyard that includes much more than just wine, hop over the border to Ledyard, CT, to check out Maugle Sierra Vineyards. The vineyard hosts live music on Fridays and Sundays to compliment your wine tasting experience. Pack a dinner or light fare and enjoy a tasting session in the Sierra Room while you take in the sunset.

825 Colonel Ledyard Highway, Ledyard, CT. (860) 464-2987.

Nickle Creek Vineyards

Nickle Creek Vineyard is a family owned and operated Rhode Island wine treasure. The winery, located in Foster, makes it their mission to handcraft the most unique, high quality wines in the business. All wines are created in small batches, giving them a distinctly unique taste. This weekend, visit their tasting room to try their variety of wines. On your way out, be sure to pick up a bottle of Foster Nights to get you through those chilly New England evenings.

12 King Road, Foster, RI. (401) 369-3694.

Nashoba Valley Winery

Take the bite off the winter chill this weekend and take a drive to Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton. The winery hosts tasting events everyday from 10am-4:30pm For $5, receive a free tasting glass and samples of up to five different wines. Some favorites include Strawberry Rhubarb Wine, Holiday Special Cranberry Apple (a new release in November 2013), and New English Cider. If you are in the mood for something other than wine (if that’s possible), check out their beer selection as well!

100 Wattaquadock Hill Road, Bolton, MA. (978) 779-5521.

Bishop’s Orchards Winery

The wines from Bishop’s Orchards Winery and Farm Market in Guilford, CT, have won over 179 medals since the winery opened in 2005. The tasting room at Bishop’s is open seven days a week year round, so no time is off-limits for wine tasting. Head over on the weekend to enjoy a winery tour pre or post tasting session. While visiting the winery, also be sure to check out the market for fresh baked goodies.

1355 Boston Post Road, Guilford, CT. (203) 453-2338.

Diamond Hill Vineyards

For a cool twist on classic wine labels, look no further than Diamond Hill Vineyard in Cumberland. At Diamond Hill, you can get custom designed wine labels perfect for any occasion. If you’re interested in tasting the wines, visit their elegant tasting room for samples of their high quality wines such as Cranberry Apple, Estate Pinot Noir, or Blackberry.

3145 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, RI. (401) 333-2751.

Westport Rivers

Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery

Tucked away on the southern coast of Massachusetts, Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery, located about an hour’s drive from Worcester, is worth the trip. For only $10, you can take home a special edition etched wine glass and enjoy a tasting of up to six of their award-winning wines. While the tasting room is open Monday-Saturday, free winery tours are also offered to the public every Saturday from 1-3pm.

417 Hixbridge Rd, Westport, MA. (508) 636-3423.

Travessia Winery

Found on the southern Massachusetts coast about 30 minutes outside of Providence, is Travessia Winery in New Bedford. This micro-winery puts a twist on traditional wine culture with its cool urban flair. Travessia is open for sales and tastings Wednesday-Sunday, and invites customers to come in and enjoy their unique variety of wines.

760 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA. (774) 929-6534.

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