Heinen’s/WVIZ World Series of Wine @ Terrace Club 11/5 Last summer my wife and I made a pilgrimage to wine country, California style. It was a little bit Francisco, Barry Bonds, Ghiradelli and Alcatraz… but so much more importantly Napa, Sonoma and Russian River Valley. It was a wonderful time—so much so that even this “Miles”-type (nee Sideways) actually fell in love with wine. As it turned out, wine is one of my many jobs (if you follow this blog, it would be Job Numero Dos) and I can’t say that I could ever get enough of it.

Whether you consider a “wine snob” (perhaps like Miles) or you enjoy an occasional glass or two (three?), the Heinen’s/WVIZ World Series of Wine is arguably the best event Northeast Ohio has to offer as it relates to vino. At the second of three “Grand Tastings,” some 400 wines from around the world were featured. Over 100 featured wineries were on hand to provide perspectives and expertise on becoming a more informed wine consumer.

Even local wineries like Ferrante and Debonne Vineyards were able to hold their own (easily, I might add) against some of the more accomplished fruit-forward US heavy-hitters (Washington, Oregon, California), Australia and New Zealand.

There were many amazing wines, but among the best were the Oregon Pinot Noirs and an amazing Ferrante Vidal Ice Wine, which could easily hold its own against any Ontario varietal. But the big winner of the afternoon was Marquee Vineyards’ GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mouvedre) from Australia… about 30 miles North of Melbourne… this meritage had a load of juicy raspberry, black cherry and black currant features and clove/herb hints that would make it a great match for seasoned steaks, fajitas and kabobs!

And it was one-TENTH the price of a Mondavi Private Reserve Cab sampled right before it… all you Cool Clevelanders know that spending money doesn’t necessarily equate to quality. And this certainly holds true in the wine arena as well.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com (:divend:)