Wine tasting with friends for the holiday season
Wine tasting can be fun anytime, but during the holidays season it can be extra special. Our group had a wide range of wine drinkers, the self-proclaimed ‘white wine drinkers’, the always defined ‘red wine drinkers’, the ‘newbies’ to wine tasting, and those who appreciate any varietal. Aridus Winery in Scottsdale always does a wonderful job of sharing their various options and this evening was no exception.
In true tasting form we started in the whites, moved to the lighter reds, and finished with the boldest wines. Everyone found something they enjoyed and here are our comments for just a few of the wines we were able to experience.
2015 Chardonnay
This isn’t your buttery, oaky chardonnay, but we agreed that there is a full-body quality to the wine. Food options for this bottle are wide-ranging – obvious choices like chicken and fish, of course – but the smoky, lively characteristics also lean this toward a spicier food too.
2017 Zinfandel
If you’re looking for an easy to sip wine for now or in a couple of years – this is the one to reach for. With notes of cinnamon and a woodsy background, even the white wine drinkers were compelled to finish this and ask for more.
2017 Malbec
Steak anyone? The blackberry fruit flavor in this red would make any carnivore happy. This bottle can probably sit in the wine fridge for a couple of years too – definitely more growth potential in this grape over time.