#WITS2012 Wine Tasting

What is #WITS2012? It is the hashtag for the Wine Industry Technology Symposium™ (WITS) held this year in Napa Valley, CA. In conjunction with the symposium, WineTwits held and sponsored a national virtual tasting on Tuesday, July 10th. Hosts from all over the country tasted wines while tweeting about them. Selected hosts were provided four wines featured in the event. It was an honor to be one of them. The virtual tasting was a blast! It was hard to keep up with all the tweets. There were so many hosts and participants.

The wines arrived a few days before the tasting. I was excited as soon as I unpacked them. There was a Chardonnay, two Pinot Noirs, and a red blend. Having two Pinots made it interesting. I really enjoy comparing how the same grape can taste different depending on the region and winemaker. It reflects how wine has such a great range and complexity. It is why I continue to try new wines. The next bottle could be a favorite waiting to be discovered.

The wines featured in the tasting were:

• Wente Vineyards Morning Fog Chardonnay 2010 – I do not typically drink Chardonnay. I prefer a Sauvignon Blanc or dry Riesling. With that said, this Chardonnay is one I would drink. It is not too oak-y or butter-y. Flavors of apple, tropical fruits, and melon give it a nice light fruitiness. It has a lovely pale gold color and creamy finish. This is a great wine for a hot summer day.
• Hahn Winery Pinot Noir 2011 – A very smooth wine with a nice finish. It has flavors of dark rich fruit like cherry and black currant plus a hint of baking spices. This is a versatile Pinot Noir that would pair well with many foods.
• Garnet Vineyards Carneros Pinot Noir 2010 – This Pinot Noir is a little more robust than the Hahn. The acidity makes the fruit flavors have a bit more pop. Dark cherry, cranberry, black fruit, vanilla, and cocoa can be tasted from the first sip to the last. This is one to share on occasions more than just an everyday wine.
• Franciscan Estate Magnificat Meritage 2008 – A big and bold red blend. Magnificent actually. This wine begs to be served alongside a juicy steak. It is full-bodied for sure. It has flavors of plum, blackberry, spicy fruit, and a hint of smoke/cedar. This is a very special occasion wine (retails around $40).

Special thanks to WineTwits for selecting me as a host. It was a sheer pleasure to participate. I am looking forward to the next event and spreading wine love around the world. Cheers!

Disclaimer: I received the wines free of charge from WineTwits. I was under no obligation to give a positive review. All opinions on this site are my own unless otherwise noted or within a guest post.